The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Mr Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, has said Nigeria occupies a central place in Iran’s engagement with Africa, describing the country as a strategic gateway to West Africa.
Mr Raja made the assertion while speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, where he identified Nigeria’s political influence, large population and regional leadership as factors that make it a critical partner for Iran’s diplomatic, economic and cultural outreach across the continent.
He reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria through enhanced cooperation in trade, education, science and cultural exchanges.
He said, “In our belief and foreign policy approach, Nigeria’s position in Africa is very significant. Your country is a main gate to West Africa, and we count on Nigeria as a key and important partner on the continent.”
The Iranian ambassador noted that Nigeria and Iran have maintained diplomatic relations for more than 53 years, and expressed optimism that the appointment of a new Nigerian ambassador to Tehran would further boost cooperation and deepen existing ties.
He emphasised that Iran considers Nigeria a dependable partner for joint initiatives on regional and international platforms and expressed readiness to provide opportunities for collaboration in education, including scholarship programmes for Nigerian students.
Mr Raja also called for stronger media and institutional engagement between both countries to promote direct and accurate information exchange in areas such as trade, industry, culture, science and security.
Addressing issues beyond Africa, the ambassador spoke on recent unrest in Iran, stating that the country’s security situation has since returned to normal.
He insisted that the protests, which were initially triggered by economic concerns, were later exploited by terrorist elements and foreign agents intent on destabilising Iran.
He said, “We are looking for peace in the region, but at the same time we are fully vigilant and ready to defend our country, our integrity and our territory.”
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Mr Raja added that temporary internet restrictions imposed during the height of the unrest were necessary to prevent coordination between violent groups within Iran and their external sponsors, noting that internet services have largely been restored.
On allegations of foreign interference, he said, “There is no doubt that hostile countries intervened through their agents and intelligence services to provoke instability and violence in Iran.”
The ambassador also reacted to comments made by former United States President Donald Trump, describing them as a direct threat to Iran’s sovereignty.
He said, “No sovereign nation can tolerate a foreign president openly calling on its people to come to the streets, destabilise security and damage public property.”
