Iran says Gambia under US pressure

Alaeddin Boroujerdi

Following Gambia’s announcement that they have severed all ties with Iran, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission blamed US pressures for the Gambian reaction.

According to ILNA, Alaeddin Boroujerdi noted that Iran had no embassies in Gambia and their embassy in Senegal took care of relations with Gambia.

Head of Iranian Foreign policy Commission added: “A small country like Gambia may have decided to sever relations with us under pressure from the US. But if such pressures were removed, we are certain that Gambian officials would be positive toward having relations with Iran.”

In terms of Iranian projects in Gambia, he maintained that Iran has several projects in African states and forgoing them is subject to international regulations.

On Monday, Gambia announced that it is severing all ties with the Islamic Republic and called on all Iranian diplomats in Gambia to leave the country within 48 hours.

The decision came after an arms delivery from Iran which is said to have been intended for Gambia ended up in Nigeria.

Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’s Foreign Minister announced: “The discovered shipment of arms and military equipment belonged to a private company and was supposed to have been delivered to another African state through Nigeria.” The final destination of the shipment was not specified by the Iranian FM.

Last year, following Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s trip to Gambia, the leaders of the two countries announced “friendly bilateral relations” between their countries.