Iran, which has recognized «SADR» since the 1980s, has criticized France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. This stance was conveyed by Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, a body closely aligned with the government in Tehran, through an interview given by one of its members to the official IRNA news agency. «France is trying to continue playing an active role in the political processes in the North African region. For this reason, the country's position on Western Sahara could have a significant impact on political dynamics and negotiations between regional and extra-regional players», analyzed Morteza Makki, an expert on the Sahara issue. He added, «France's change of position on the future of Western Sahara will not help resolve the crisis in this region but will instead complicate it further. France is attempting to use the Western Sahara issue as a tool to extract concessions from Morocco and Algeria and to exert pressure on the Algerian government». Defending Algeria, he stated, «At present, the United States, France, and a number of European countries support Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Meanwhile, most African countries, including the African Union, back Algeria's stance to hold a referendum to determine Western Sahara's future by its inhabitants». On August 14, the Moroccan Foreign Minister, during the opening of Chad's consulate in Dakhla, noted that «around 42% of African countries now have consulates in the Kingdom's southern provinces», and other African Union members support the autonomy solution proposed by Morocco. Morocco has severed relations with Iran since May 1, 2018. At the last meeting of the UN Committee of 24, held in New York in July, Tehran's representative called for «the acceleration of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara».
