According to a report by The Vanguard on Saturday, March 7, 2026, the global conflict between Israel and Iran has shifted to Nigeria’s diplomatic scene, with both nations trading heavy accusations in Abuja.
Israeli Ambassador Michael Freeman sparked the row during a recent interview, alleging that Iran is actively sponsoring terrorism within Nigeria and across the Sahel region to spread its revolutionary extremism.
Freeman specifically pointed to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as a proxy backed by Tehran.
He argued that Israel’s recent military strikes—which reportedly claimed the life of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—were a “moral obligation.”
According to the envoy, these actions were necessary to stop a regime that has spent 47 years funding global terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah while secretly building nuclear weapons underground.
In a swift rebuttal, the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, dismissed the claims as “baseless propaganda.”
Speaking to Vanguard, Raja argued that Israel is using these allegations as a smokescreen to hide its own record of “state terrorism” and violations of international law.
He maintained that Iran’s relationship with Nigeria remains transparent and focused on trade, education, and technology.
The diplomatic spat follows a massive military escalation in late February 2026, known as Operation Roaring Lion, which targeted Iranian nuclear sites.
As global oil markets face disruptions and proxy wars intensify, the Iranian envoy urged Nigeria to rely on evidence rather than “politically motivated” claims.
Meanwhile, Israel expressed readiness to partner with the Nigerian government to tackle regional instability.