The Gambia has announced the resumption of diplomatic ties with Iran, 14 years after severing relations with the Middle Eastern nation, over what Tehran claims was the result of U.S. pressure..What You Need to Know.The announcement came after a series of discussions between the foreign ministers of Iran and The Gambia, held on the sidelines of the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 29..The Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed that the resumption of ties came "in order to preserve the interests of both countries," nearly 14 years after an alleged shipment of arms from Iran to The Gambia was intercepted by Nigeria, allegedly prompting Banjul to sever ties and order all Iranian diplomatic staff to depart within 48 hours..When ties were severed in 2010, Banjul offered no official reason for the sudden end of relations with Iran, although, in the aftermath of the shipment's discovery, Iran claimed that the shipment complied with international law despite being under UN sanction due to its nuclear program..Alaeddin Borujerdi, speaking at the time, claimed that The Gambia cut ties after the United States applied pressure on the West African nation, although The Gambia has never confirmed the claim..Three years later, a Nigerian court sentenced a Nigerian citizen and Azim Aghajani, an Iranian national, to five years in prison for arms smuggling..In its recent statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, "The governments of the two countries agreed to expand friendly relations based on mutual respect, equality, and common interests.".The resumption of ties is set to enable increased cooperation between the two nations in the economic, political, and cultural realms, with Senegal—where both nations have embassies— likely to act as a conduit.
The Gambia has announced the resumption of diplomatic ties with Iran, 14 years after severing relations with the Middle Eastern nation, over what Tehran claims was the result of U.S. pressure..What You Need to Know.The announcement came after a series of discussions between the foreign ministers of Iran and The Gambia, held on the sidelines of the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 29..The Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed that the resumption of ties came "in order to preserve the interests of both countries," nearly 14 years after an alleged shipment of arms from Iran to The Gambia was intercepted by Nigeria, allegedly prompting Banjul to sever ties and order all Iranian diplomatic staff to depart within 48 hours..When ties were severed in 2010, Banjul offered no official reason for the sudden end of relations with Iran, although, in the aftermath of the shipment's discovery, Iran claimed that the shipment complied with international law despite being under UN sanction due to its nuclear program..Alaeddin Borujerdi, speaking at the time, claimed that The Gambia cut ties after the United States applied pressure on the West African nation, although The Gambia has never confirmed the claim..Three years later, a Nigerian court sentenced a Nigerian citizen and Azim Aghajani, an Iranian national, to five years in prison for arms smuggling..In its recent statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, "The governments of the two countries agreed to expand friendly relations based on mutual respect, equality, and common interests.".The resumption of ties is set to enable increased cooperation between the two nations in the economic, political, and cultural realms, with Senegal—where both nations have embassies— likely to act as a conduit.
