Iran Boycotts Morocco Match at Islamic Solidarity Games, Raising Diplomatic Tensions

Unexpectedly, the Iranian team decided not to play a match against the Moroccan team. This refusal prompted the organizing committee of the Islamic Games, which are taking place in Konya, Turkey from August 9 to 18, 2022, to postpone the match. What could explain this refusal? Is it related to Morocco’s severance of diplomatic relations with Iran?

In 2018, Rabat cut ties with Tehran after learning that its partner was supplying arms and training the Polisario Front via the Lebanese Hezbollah, with the Sahara issue remaining a non-negotiable subject for Morocco. Since then, relations between the two countries have remained tense.