Israel Raises Fresh Alarm Over Iran’s Alleged Terror Ties in Nigeria

Israel Raises Fresh Alarm Over Iran’s Alleged Terror Ties in Nigeria

The Israeli government has again accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism around the world, including in Nigeria, amid a fresh exchange of claims and counterclaims between the two countries.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said Iran’s alleged involvement in supporting militant groups across different regions of the world could not be dismissed by official denials.

The statement followed remarks by Iran’s envoy to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, who during an appearance on ARISE News on March 8 rejected claims that Tehran sponsors extremist activities in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.

Responding to the denial, Freeman maintained that Iran has for decades been widely identified as a major state sponsor of militant organisations.

“For decades, Iran has been widely identified as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, providing funding, weapons, training and strategic direction to terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis,” the ambassador said.

He further argued that Iran’s alleged activities extend beyond the Middle East, claiming that Iranian-linked networks have been connected to attacks and plots in several parts of the world.

“Iranian-backed operatives and networks have been linked to attacks and plots across the globe — from Argentina and Bulgaria to Australia and the United Kingdom,” Freeman stated.

The ambassador also referred to the October 7 attacks carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israeli civilians, alleging that Iranian leaders praised the assault and encouraged further violence against Israel.

Freeman said Nigeria has also recorded incidents that authorities linked to Iranian-backed networks.

According to him, Nigerian security agencies intercepted a shipment of Iranian weapons in 2010 at the Apapa Port which he said had been concealed in cargo containers and allegedly intended for armed groups operating in West Africa.

He also cited a 2013 operation in which Nigerian authorities reportedly uncovered a weapons cache and arrested individuals believed to be linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in Abuja and Kano.

Freeman said Tehran’s denials could not erase what he described as documented evidence of its activities.

“The Iranian regime can make as many statements as they like and appear on as many television channels as they want. But facts speak louder than words. And the fact is that Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism and has backed the Islamic Movement of Nigeria for years,” he said.

The envoy also alleged that Iran has supported the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), noting that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had previously met with the group’s leader Ibrahim Zakzaky and praised him for his activism.

According to the Israeli embassy, the statement was issued to counter what it described as misinformation regarding Iran’s activities globally.

“Terrorism threatens the security and stability of nations across the world, including here in Nigeria,” the statement added.

The renewed accusations reflect the broader geopolitical rivalry between Israel and Iran, which has intensified in recent years and increasingly played out in diplomatic exchanges across different parts of the world.