Iran arms-smuggling case roils Nigeria

Nigerian foreign minister is threatening action against Iran if it violated international law and United Nations (UN) sanctions in an arms-smuggling case.

A weapons cache containing artillery rockets was seized by Nigerian security agents at the West African nation’s busiest port last month.

International shipping company CMA CGM claimed the weapons originally came from Iran.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia told a news conference on Friday that Iran’s foreign minister had authorised Nigerian officials to interview one of two Iranians—arrested soon after the discovery of the weapons—implicated in the arms shipment discovered at the Lagos port. Ajumogobia says the other man had diplomatic immunity.

Nigerian authorities believe both men are hiding in the Iranian embassy.

“If Nigeria finds at the conclusion of the investigation that there has been a breach of international law—a breach of UN sanctions—Nigeria is a member of the UN Security Council [and] we will do what is necessary,” Ajumogobia said.

The statement from the international cargo shipper based in France came after Israeli officials accused Iran of trying to sneak the shipment into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. By unloading the weapons in Nigeria, the Israeli claim suggested Iran perhaps sought to truck the weapons through Africa to slide around an embargo now in place in Gaza.—Sapa-AP