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The Gambian and Iranian presidents have enjoyed close ties in recent years
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The Gambia has said it is cutting all ties with Iran and ordered all Iranian government representatives to leave within 48 hours.
The two countries, both of which have faced criticism over their human rights records, have had fairly close ties.
Officials from the small West African nation gave no reason for the move.
But last month Nigeria said it had intercepted an illegal arms shipment in Lagos from Iran, reportedly destined for The Gambia.
The Nigerian authorities discovered the weapons, including rocket launchers and grenades, in containers labelled as building materials.
The France-based shipping company CMA CGM which transported the shipment said it was hidden in containers and attempts were made to send it to The Gambia before the Nigerian police seized it.
Nigeria has reported the seizure to the UN Security Council.
Iran's foreign minister has said the weapons were the subject of "misunderstanding", which has been cleared up.
Iran is under UN sanctions because of its nuclear programme and is banned from supplying, selling or transferring arms.
"All government of The Gambia projects and programmes, which were [being] implemented in co-operation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have been cancelled," the Gambian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The weapons seized by Nigerian security officials in Lagos included rocket launchers and grenades
Correspondents say ties between Tehran and Banjul became closer after Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh came to power in 1994.
When The Gambia hosted the African Union summit in 2006, the Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was a guest of honour.
The Gambia has been among those developing nations who have defended Iran's right to nuclear power.
Charlie Zrom, who has published a paper on Iranian foreign policy for the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank in Washington, says the move is a surprise and will be an embarrassment for Iran.
"Iran has sought partners around the world especially as sanctions have come on the table in the last few years," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"West Africa has been a key priority for them and we've seen a number of visits both from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and from the defence minister.
"It's a tool by which Iran tries to prevent measures harmful to it, or it believes harmful to it, being passed at the United Nations."
Correspondents say the decision to expel all Iranian diplomats will bring an end to several projects funded by Iran, such as the $2bn (£1.2bn) agreement to supply The Gambia with heavy and commercial vehicles.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The Gambian and Iranian presidents have enjoyed close ties in recent years Related stories
The Gambia has said it is cutting all ties with Iran and ordered all Iranian government representatives to leave within 48 hours.
The two countries, both of which have faced criticism over their human rights records, have had fairly close ties.
Officials from the small West African nation gave no reason for the move.
But last month Nigeria said it had intercepted an illegal arms shipment in Lagos from Iran, reportedly destined for The Gambia.
The Nigerian authorities discovered the weapons, including rocket launchers and grenades, in containers labelled as building materials.
The France-based shipping company CMA CGM which transported the shipment said it was hidden in containers and attempts were made to send it to The Gambia before the Nigerian police seized it.
Nigeria has reported the seizure to the UN Security Council.
Iran's foreign minister has said the weapons were the subject of "misunderstanding", which has been cleared up.
Iran is under UN sanctions because of its nuclear programme and is banned from supplying, selling or transferring arms.
"All government of The Gambia projects and programmes, which were [being] implemented in co-operation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have been cancelled," the Gambian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The weapons seized by Nigerian security officials in Lagos included rocket launchers and grenades Correspondents say ties between Tehran and Banjul became closer after Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh came to power in 1994.
When The Gambia hosted the African Union summit in 2006, the Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was a guest of honour.
The Gambia has been among those developing nations who have defended Iran's right to nuclear power.
Charlie Zrom, who has published a paper on Iranian foreign policy for the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank in Washington, says the move is a surprise and will be an embarrassment for Iran.
"Iran has sought partners around the world especially as sanctions have come on the table in the last few years," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"West Africa has been a key priority for them and we've seen a number of visits both from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and from the defence minister.
"It's a tool by which Iran tries to prevent measures harmful to it, or it believes harmful to it, being passed at the United Nations."
Correspondents say the decision to expel all Iranian diplomats will bring an end to several projects funded by Iran, such as the $2bn (£1.2bn) agreement to supply The Gambia with heavy and commercial vehicles.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.