Iranian Ambassador assures Nigerians in Iran of safety amid regional tensions
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, reassured Nigerian citizens residing in Iran of their safety and security, emphasising the longstanding and cordial ties
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, reassured Nigerian citizens residing in Iran of their safety and security, emphasising the longstanding and cordial ties between the two countries.
Speaking to journalists, Raja highlighted that Iran and Nigeria have maintained strong diplomatic and economic relations for over 55 years, spanning sectors including agriculture, energy, education, and trade.
While affirming Iran’s commitment to peace, the envoy criticized the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, for what he described as an inadequate response to acts of aggression in the region. He stressed that Iran has not initiated attacks against other countries for more than two centuries but remains prepared to defend its sovereignty.
“We are not a country seeking war, but we will defend ourselves in any way necessary,” Raja said. He defended Iran’s recent military actions against United States facilities in the Middle East as self-defense measures, following what he alleged was the assassination of Iran’s supreme leadership with support from Israel and the United States.
The ambassador clarified that the military strikes targeted U.S. bases specifically, not civilian infrastructure, countering reports suggesting civilian airports were targeted. He added that Iran had communicated to neighbouring Persian Gulf countries that any retaliatory action would focus solely on American military installations, sparing local cities.
Raja’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran emphasizing a stance of measured defence while maintaining its longstanding diplomatic and economic engagements with Nigeria.
“This is an act of defence. We are not targeting neighbouring countries but the American facilities being used against us,” he said.
The Iranian representative also said Tehran is not currently considering diplomatic negotiations, claiming that diplomacy was undermined by recent attacks.
“We were negotiating, but diplomacy was killed when the attacks happened,” he said.
“For now, our focus is on defending our sovereignty and national security.”
Regarding protests by Muslims worldwide over the reported killing of Iran’s spiritual leader, Raja said they were expected due to the leader’s influence across both Shia and Sunni communities.
According to him, demonstrations were recorded in several countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, as well as parts of Europe and Africa.
Raja also defended Iran’s attacks against Israel, saying they were justified responses to what he described as Israel’s attempt to assassinate Iran’s leadership.
He accused Israel and the United States of pursuing a broader strategy aimed at destabilising the Middle East.
According to him, conflicts in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq are part of that wider strategy.
He also warned that continued escalation could trigger a broader regional conflict with significant consequences for the global economy.
The envoy said that the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly 20 percent of global energy supplies pass, could be affected by the crisis.
“This conflict will affect global energy markets. "Transportation costs and oil prices will rise because the Persian Gulf may not remain secure,” he said.
