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Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, has assured the Nigerian Government that its citizens in the country are safe, despite the conflicts in the Middle East following the recent United States (US)-Israel joint strikes launched against it.
Foreigners in Gulf countries impacted by the U.S.-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory attacks have appealed to their home countries for prompt evacuation.
While speaking about the recent developments in Iran and the Middle East during a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, Raja noted that there have been no reports of harm to Nigerians residing in Iranian cities.
“The safety of foreign residents, including Nigerians, is a priority for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Our defensive actions are targeted strictly at military installations and do not threaten civilians or foreign nationals,” he said.
Since the standoff began on Saturday, the United Nations and world leaders have condemned the attacks, called for peace and urged the conflicting parties to adopt dialogue as a conflict resolution mechanism.
Neither the U.S, Israel, nor Iran have agreed to negotiate or dialogue, and the crisis has intensified, but Raja said Iran remained committed to upholding diplomatic relations and continuing dialogue, even while defending its sovereignty.
He added that Iran’s attacks on U.S bases in the Gulf region are in self-defence, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Nigerians to remain vigilant in the Middle East and follow advisories issued by local authorities in the region.
