After President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz visited Tehran in 2010, the number of Mauritanians converting to Shia Islam significantly increased. Eight years later, Nouakchott decided to change its mind. Diplomatic relations between Mauritania and Iran are going through a rough period because of the Shiite proselytism led by the Iranian diplomatic mission in Nouakchott, says online newspaper Sahara Media. Iran's ambassador in Nouakchott was summoned by the Mauritanian Foreign Ministry on Friday, in a way to protest against the activities of «Majmaâ Imam Ali», an association located in the North African country and close to the embassy. The Mauritanian authorities asked the ambassador to suspend the activities of this cultural body which, according to them, undermines the stability of the country, adds the same source. They also decided to appoint a new imam to head the «Majmaâ» who wouldn't take orders from Iran. Mutual visits Consequently, two Shiit centers were closed Wednesday in nouakchott. The decision is believed to bring the country closer to its Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The two countries with which Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz maintain close relations. This was confirmed in May 2017, when Mauritania cut diplomatic ties with Qatar to support Ryad and Abu Dhabi. This tension also will allow the president to regain the trust of Sunni clerics and politicians; especially as he is to run for a third term during Mauritania's 2019 presidential elections. For the record, Mauritanian president Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz received his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on September the 25th in 2011 at the Nouakchott airport. One year before, Iranian and Mauritanian officials met in Tehran in January 2010 to discuss economic cooperation. The Mauritanian Minister of Economic and Development Affairs, Sidi Ould Al Tah, invited Iranian entities to invest in Mauritania's fishery, animal husbandry, agriculture, mining, and service sectors.
