Diplomatic tensions have flared in Abuja as Israel and Iran clashed over accusations of global terrorism.
Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, told Arise TV that Iran is allegedly sponsoring terrorist activities in Nigeria, pointing to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as an Iranian-backed proxy linked to the late Ayatollah Khamenei. Freeman warned that Tehran’s “entire apparatus” aims to destabilize countries and export its revolutionary ideology worldwide.
Freeman also defended Israel’s military actions against Iran, following the reported death of Khamenei, framing the offensive as a necessary step to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran from threatening Israel. He cited alleged Iranian operations in Argentina, Bulgaria, and West Africa to underscore Tehran’s global reach.
In response, Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, dismissed the claims as baseless propaganda, accusing Israel of using the allegations to distract from its own “state terrorism” record, including targeted assassinations of foreign scientists and political figures.
The spat underscores how the Israel-Iran conflict is extending beyond the Middle East, drawing Nigeria into a diplomatic conversation over security and global influence
Israel Alleges Iran Fuels Terror in Nigeria; Tehran Fires Back
