Iran implicated in Nigerian terrorist activities

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria is known to receive backing from the Iranian regime, which has been accused of sponsoring terrorism in Europe and other parts of the world, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

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Iran has also been linked to terror groups and has allegedly carried out attacks in various countries, prompting criticism from the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, who claims that Iran's actions are a threat to global stability.

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In a recent interview on Arise TV, Ambassador Freeman alleged that the Iranian regime is actively supporting terrorism within Nigeria and across Europe, citing the Islamic Movement of Nigeria as a proxy backed by the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

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Freeman warned that Iran's "entire apparatus" is dedicated to spreading terror and destabilizing sovereign nations, and justified the ongoing military offensive against Iran as a "moral obligation" to prevent a nuclear-armed Tehran from wiping Israel off the map.

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The Israeli Ambassador claimed that Iran's reach extends far beyond the Middle East, with documented terror operations in Argentina, Bulgaria, and now West Africa, and argued that the strikes against Iran are a necessary response to 47 years of Iranian aggression.

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Ambassador Freeman also asserted that the Iranian regime has massacred tens of thousands of its own citizens, and that the Israeli military action is aimed at dismantling a regime that has a history of violence and terrorism.

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In response to these allegations, the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, dismissed the claims as "entirely unfounded" and a product of a desperate propaganda campaign by Israel.

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Raja argued that the Israeli allegations are a strategic smokescreen designed to deflect global attention from Israel's own record of "state terrorism", and countered that it is Israel, not Iran, that has a documented history of violating international law.

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The Iranian Ambassador questioned the justification for the war against Iran, asking whether it is fair to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons when Israel already possesses them.

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Ambassador Freeman responded by stating that Israel has never confirmed the possession of nuclear weapons, and emphasized that the issue is about Iran's desire to wipe Israel off the map and its sponsorship of terror organizations.

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Freeman pointed out that Iran has been behind several terror attacks, including the October 7th massacre by Hamas, and has acted in Europe, Australia, and Nigeria, and argued that Israel's actions are a necessary response to these threats.

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The Israeli Ambassador also highlighted the human cost of the Iranian regime's actions, citing the massacre of between 30,000 and 70,000 Iranians who protested against the regime, and emphasized that the goal of the war is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear capabilities and to weaken the regime.

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Freeman stated that Israel's aim is to give the Iranian people the opportunity to decide the future of their country, and argued that the current regime does not represent the people and has a history of violence and repression.

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The Iranian Ambassador's claims that the Iranian people support the current leadership were disputed by Freeman, who argued that the regime's response to protests has been brutal and that the people are not free to express their opinions.

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Ambassador Freeman also addressed concerns about the humanitarian cost of the war, stating that Israel follows the laws of war and carries out pinpoint strikes to minimize civilian casualties, and emphasized that Iran is the one carrying out war crimes by targeting civilians in Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh.

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Finally, regarding Iranian influence in Nigeria, Ambassador Freeman confirmed that the Islamic Movement of Nigeria is backed by the Iranian regime, and expressed Israel's willingness to partner with Nigeria to tackle instability and terrorism.