Nigeria: Us Ultimate Goal Is Oil Control - Iran Ambassador

The ambassador of Iran to Nigeria, Ambassador Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, spoke with Daily Trust on Monday on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

He claimed that the US didn't attack Iran for the alleged plan to have nuclear weapons, adding that the Americans are targeting his country's oil. He also spoke on other issues. Excerpts: We want you to tell us the situation currently following the attacks on Iran, and also what you have done across the region. Despite the aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime, the situation in Iran is under control. Our defensive and security institutions are fully operational, and the government continues to function normally. What is important to emphasise is that the Iranian people are now united in defending their country. Iran has a long history of resilience in the face of external pressure and aggression.

While some facilities and infrastructures have been targeted, the country's core capabilities and institutions remain intact. So, in addition, yesterday [Sunday], Iran's new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, was elected as the leader by the Assembly of Experts. With this decision, the country's leadership structure has been clearly determined, and we are confident that the administration of the country will continue smoothly and even more effectively.

The American president, Donald Trump, said the US must have a say in the appointment of a new supreme leader. Was he carried along in the process?

This is an internal issue. This is the internal affairs of Iran, and we do not let anybody or any country interfere with our domestic issues and internal efforts. We had announced yesterday that the new supreme leader is the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

My people will not let any foreigners interfere in our domestic issues. Iran is an independent country. Iran make decision itself, and we do not let any countries interfere in our domestic issues.

Could you give us a clearer perspective on the level of damage that Iran has suffered?

Naturally, any military aggression causes damage and human suffering.

And Iran is no exception. Some infrastructure and facilities have been targeted, and there have been casualties, for sure. However, Iran has significant national capacities to manage these challenges.

The government has mobilised relevant institutions to assist affected areas, restore the damaged infrastructure, and ensure the continuity of essential services. More importantly, the Iranian people have repeatedly demonstrated their resilience during difficult periods in our history, despite the pressure and destruction caused by these attacks. The country continues to function, and the society remains stable. Nowadays, life in Iran is normal.

Your Excellency, when you said life is normal, does that mean that children are going to school, utilities, let's say, water, and electricity are being supplied to the people?

We have electricity. We have all the facilities. But in order to take care of the unexpected casualties, such as these circumstances, we closed the schools, we close the universities, because it's not logical to open such as these, you know, institutions and places. The first day of the attack on Saturday last week, a school in Minab City was hit.

The school girls, 168 children, were killed. That school was a primary school, which was hit by Tom Hawk missiles of the United States. So, in these circumstances, it is evident that we have to close the schools, we have to close universities, not to have more human casualties, because they target the civilians, residential capabilities and civilian buildings and residential buildings.

But there are also allegations that on the other side, you also target civilian buildings, facilities that are protected by international laws, maybe across Tel Aviv and other places. Could that be correct?

No, no, no, no, no. Maybe you are talking about the Persian Gulf countries, where we attacked some facilities and military bases. In the Persian Gulf countries, we concentrate on military bases and military assets of the United States in the region, which we made announcements before we attacked.

Is it correct that the insinuation that President Trump had actually tried to bring about a ceasefire, but then the council in Iran rejected that offer? Is that correct?

Iran has always supported diplomacy and peaceful solutions.

However, a ceasefire that ignores the root cause of the conflict cannot bring sustainable peace. The reality is that Iran did not start this war. Iran was attacked. Therefore, expecting the victim of aggression to immediately accept the ceasefire without addressing the aggression itself is neither realistic nor just. As long as military aggression continues, there is simply no room. This is my government's latest position. As long as military aggression continues, there is simply no room for talks. Why such aggression persists, speaking about anything other than a firm and decisive response is out of the question.

We were in the middle of the negotiation when this war was imposed on us. Under these circumstances, we have no choice. We have no choice but to this other than resolve to resist the hegemonic ambitions of the United States and Zionist regime.

Now there is no room for negotiation. There is no room for, you know, a ceasefire. Our concentration and our priority are to defend.

How prepared is Iran to continue with this war militarily and in terms of equipment to continue prosecuting the war?

Iran is prepared for this war, and we have the capabilities. We have the capabilities to respond to any kind of aggression from the United States and Israel, and we have shown during these more than one week of resistance that we are capable of defending ourselves, defending our people, defend our country.

The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria recently alleged that Iran is sponsoring terrorism in different countries, including in Nigeria. How do you react to that allegation?

These accusations are completely baseless and politically motivated. Iran has always respected the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Nigeria.

We have never supported any group or activity aimed at destabilising this country. Nigeria is an important partner and respected partner for Iran in Africa. And our relations are based on mutual respect and cooperation.

And it is also important to recall that Iran itself has been a victim of terrorism for decades, and our country has suffered significant human and material losses as a result of terrorist attacks.

Such accusations against Iran are not only unfounded but also deeply ironic. We categorically deny such baseless allegations. We are in a good relationship, at a good level of bilateral, regional, and international relations with the Nigerian government.

What is the relationship between Iran and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria?

The relations are based on the spiritual and moral, and cultural connection and sympathy. Nothing more than this. It is the same as the connection which we have with different groups, Islamic groups, not only Shia, but also Sunni groups everywhere, not only in Africa, but the other continents and in other countries.

There are that connection, and that relation is moral and spiritual. They, some of them, in Muslim words, are followers of, I mean, spiritually and religiously, they're followers of the late supreme leader.

Do you mean that there apart from moral and spiritual connections, there is no financial support from Iran for any group?

For sure, no support. We only have spiritual, cultural and moral connections. The same as the other groups in Africa, I mean, Muslims. Doesn't matter Sunni or Shia, that's all.

What is the justification for the closure of the Straits of Hormuz by Iran, which has cut over 20% of fuel supply to the other parts of the world? Is it a bargaining deal, or do you want to achieve something?

Iran has not closed the Straits of Hormuz and has no plans to do so.

If any such action were to be taken, it would be officially announced. Iran has also affirmed that navigation in the strait, in the strait will continue in accordance with international law and established maritime regulations. What Iran is doing is exercising its sovereign rights in its territorial waters, including monitoring and controlling maritime traffic in order to ensure security in the sensitive waterway.

This should not be interpreted as closing the Strait. The Strait of Hormuz remains open for international shipping. However, it's also clear that continued military escalation in the region by external powers could threaten the stability of the vital route through which a significant portion of the world's energy passes.

Then why the obstruction? Because already, if you look at it, your excellency, the price of petrol, even in Nigeria, has skyrocketed. It's now nearly N1,200 even here in Abuja. Not to talk of other places, and this is across the world.

This is the reality. This is the normal result of this aggression, this conflict. It is obvious that if you have a conflict in the strategic region, which is the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, you have to ask the aggressors why they attacked an independent country such as Iran.

You know for sure that if you have a war, the traffic in this region will be undermined and will be influenced by the attack. This is normal, very normal.

Most of the Gulf States- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, among others- are complaining that you are also bullying them in a way. How will you defend this, and then include your attacks on these countries? How will this problem be resolved?

The Persian Gulf countries are friends of Iran. We have a good relationship, but the point is that we cannot tolerate being targeted by the military bases and assets of the United States in these countries. The United States has so many military bases and assets in Persian Gulf countries, and they are attacking my country from those bases, and this is not acceptable for Iran. Iran will attack those bases, not the territory of our friends and Persian Gulf countries in the region. We attack those bases because they belong to the United States, and we inform them not to let the American army and military forces use those bases. That is a clear message.

Do you think Israel alone can confront Iran in a fight?

For sure, no. Now, it depends on the support of the United States to confront and attack Iran.

How prepared is the Iranian army and other security agencies to protect the new spiritual leader?

We know how to protect our territory. We know how to protect our people. We know how to protect the sovereignty, and we know how to protect our leadership. This is our duty. This is our obligation, and we have to protect all the subjects. Iran is capable, and now we will continue to defend ourselves and the people in the country.

Let me tell you, the main purpose and the main aim of the United States and the Zionist regime for such brutal and unprovoked aggression is for the United States to get the Iranian energy reserves and the oil resources. They announced it themselves. The executive of the White House Energy Council recently officially stated that the US aim to take full control of Iran's oil resources, and the aim of the Zionist regime is the disintegration of Iran. They drew maps to disintegrate my country.

Is it that the United States is lying when it said there is uranium enrichment by Iran to have nuclear weapons?

Iran is a full member of the IEA and we are under the monitoring and safeguarding of the IEA and we fully respect all regulations and instructions by the IEA and they approved the Iranian purpose of the nuclear energy, which is peaceful and and if somebody should, let's say ask about the nuclear activity they have to ask Israel possessed around 200 nuclear warheads while refusing to join Nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Iran is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran's nuclear energy is for peaceful purposes, and we announced several times that we are not looking for any kind of nuclear weapons.

Read the original article on Daily Trust.

Nigeria: Us Ultimate Goal Is Oil Control - Iran Ambassador

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