The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism globally and supporting militant networks, including alleged links to activities within Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Israeli mission challenged recent remarks by Iran’s envoy to Nigeria denying Tehran’s involvement in terrorism, insisting that evidence gathered over the years contradicts such claims.
The embassy stated that Iran has long been identified by several governments and security agencies as a major state sponsor of terrorism, alleging that the country provides funding, weapons, training and strategic guidance to militant groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi movement.
According to the statement released on Monday, these groups have been responsible for attacks against civilians and have contributed to instability in several regions of the world, particularly in the Middle East.
The embassy further alleged that Iranian-backed operatives and networks have been linked to attacks and plots in a number of countries, including Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Highlighting developments in the Middle East, the mission said Iranian leaders had publicly praised the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians and encouraged further violence against Israel.
The embassy also referenced past incidents in Nigeria which it said pointed to Iranian-linked activities within the country.
It recalled that in 2010 Nigerian authorities intercepted a shipment of weapons originating from Iran at Apapa Port in Lagos. The arms were concealed in containers allegedly destined for militant groups in West Africa.
The statement also cited a 2013 operation by Nigerian security agencies during which a Hezbollah-linked cell and a cache of weapons were uncovered, leading to arrests in Abuja and Kano. Authorities at the time said the weapons were intended for attacks on Israeli and Western interests in Nigeria.
Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said Iran’s repeated denials could not erase what he described as a documented record of support for militant organisations.
“The Iranian regime can make as many statements as it wishes and appear on as many television channels as it wants, but facts speak louder than words. The reality is that Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism and has backed the Islamic Movement of Nigeria for years,” he said.
The embassy said it considered it necessary to challenge what it described as misinformation, stressing that terrorism remains a major threat to global peace and stability, including in Nigeria.
