The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has accused Iran of supporting Islamic movements in the country as part of a wider effort to spread terrorism.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Friday monitored by Truth Live News, Mr Freeman said the Iranian government had been backing groups operating in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
“We know there are certain movements, for example the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, that are sponsored and backed by the Iranian regime,” he said.
His remarks come amid rising tensions in the Middle East following coordinated airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets.
Earlier this week, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a Shi’ite group, staged protests in several Nigerian cities after reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, had been killed during the strikes in Tehran.
Demonstrations were reported in Lagos, Kano, Niger State, Sokoto, Gombe and Kaduna, where protesters waved Iranian flags and carried placards condemning the United States and Israel while expressing support for Iran. Similar protests were also reported in Bauchi State and Yobe State.
Mr Freeman said Iran’s actions were part of a long-standing policy against Israel and its allies.
“For 47 years Iran has had a policy of ‘death to Israel’ and ‘death to America’. Its state structure has been sponsoring organisations around the world to spread terror,” he said.
He also accused Tehran of supporting armed groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis, as well as pursuing ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, had earlier defended Tehran’s recent missile strikes on US military bases in the Gulf, saying the attacks were a response to actions by the United States and Israel.
Reports say Iranian missiles and drones targeted bases in Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
Mr Freeman said Israel was ready to support Nigeria in addressing any security threats linked to extremist groups.
“As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, we are willing and eager to partner with Nigeria according to its needs in order to help tackle instability,” he added.
