Algeria has so far maintained silence over the rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, as signs grow of a possible imminent US military strike on Tehran following direct threats issued on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump over Iran’s nuclear programme.
In recent months, Algeria has increasingly distanced itself from any political or diplomatic rapprochement with Iran, a shift that has coincided with repeated warnings by Trump against countries maintaining dealings with Tehran. Among the most recent cases was South Africa, which was explicitly threatened by Washington and subsequently barred Iranian participation in a naval exercise held off its coasts, in an apparent move to avoid US sanctions.
For decades, Algeria had considered Iran a friendly state and repeatedly affirmed that it shared similar positions with Tehran on several regional and international issues. However, this long-standing political legacy has not translated into any public support for Iran amid the current crisis, with Algiers opting instead for neutrality and silence.
Observers interpret this stance as a deliberate attempt by Algeria to avoid becoming entangled in a direct confrontation with Washington, particularly at a time when US pressure on Iran is intensifying.
This position recalls a similar approach adopted by Algeria during the Venezuelan crisis, when US forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in recent weeks and transferred him to the United States to stand trial. At the time, Algeria refrained from issuing any strong official reaction, despite maintaining good relations with the Maduro regime and previously viewing Venezuela as a close ally.
According to analysts, this pattern of silence reflects a shift in Algerian foreign policy, aimed at reducing the costs of ideological alignment and avoiding risky confrontations with major global powers.
This recalibration comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented escalation by Washington against Tehran. On Wednesday, President Trump urged Iran to accelerate negotiations over its nuclear programme, warning that “time is running out.”
Trump cautioned that any further delay could trigger a US attack that would be “far worse” than previous strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Writing on his Truth Social platform, he said the United States “hopes Iran will quickly agree to sit at the negotiating table and reach a fair and just deal — no nuclear weapons.”
The US president also hinted at the possibility of a more severe military strike than the one carried out in June, when American forces targeted Iranian nuclear sites, reigniting fears of a direct military confrontation. These concerns have been amplified by reports that a US aircraft carrier has moved closer to Iran in recent days, further heightening regional and international tensions.
