Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Raja, has accused the United States and Israel of being responsible for the violence that followed recent protests across several Iranian cities. Speaking with journalists at the Iranian Embassy in Abuja, Raja said the demonstrations, which began in late December 2025 over economic hardship, were initially peaceful before being hijacked by foreign-backed elements.

According to the ambassador, the protests only turned violent after what he described as the infiltration of US and Israeli agents. He claimed these actors introduced weapons and carried out attacks similar to terrorist operations, targeting both security forces and civilians in a bid to escalate chaos and increase casualties.

Raja also disputed reports by some foreign media that placed the death toll above 30,000. He said official government figures put the number of deaths at about 3,000, insisting that exaggerated reports were part of a wider effort to discredit Iran. He further defended the temporary shutdown of internet services, explaining that it was done to disrupt communication between violent groups and their alleged foreign sponsors.

Beyond the protests, the ambassador called for stronger Iran–Nigeria relations, especially in the energy sector. He said closer cooperation between both oil-producing nations would boost economic benefits, enhance influence in global energy markets, and create opportunities for investment and technical exchange.