Iran envoy rejects Trump’s role in choosing succession

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Gholamreza Ahdavi Raja, has rejected remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Washington would play a role in determining Iran’s next leader following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Saturday’s attack.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Raja emphasised that Iran would independently determine its leadership and political future without foreign interference.

“The United States is always interfering in our domestic issues. We are an independent country. We will not let the United States interfere in our domestic affairs,” he said.

The ambassador’s remarks came in response to Trump’s statements on Truth Social and in interviews, in which the former US president indicated he must be involved in selecting Iran’s next leader, drawing comparisons to his past involvement in Venezuela.

Raja dismissed the claims, asserting that decisions about Iran’s leadership will be made by the Iranian people. “We are an independent country. We decide ourselves about our leadership, about our future, and all the decisions which we are taking are based on the people in order to preserve the interests of our country,” he said.

The envoy also reassured that Nigerians living in Iran remain safe amid tensions in the region, noting that there have been no reports of casualties among them. He highlighted the long-standing cordial relations between Nigeria and Iran, which span over five decades, and cited ongoing cooperation in politics, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, industry, and education.

On the recent military attacks against Iran, Raja condemned the actions as premeditated acts of aggression violating international law and the UN Charter. He emphasised that Iran has not initiated war in over two centuries, contrasting this with repeated US interventions in more than 50 countries since World War II.

Raja accused global institutions, including the UN and the European Union, of failing to act and alleged they are influenced by the United States. “The UN is under the hand of the United States. No actions have been taken against acts of terror, acts of assassination, or acts of aggression. No action,” he said.

Citing Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, the ambassador condemned the attacks as violations of Iran’s territorial integrity and political independence, while invoking Article 51 to affirm Iran’s right to self-defence. He highlighted damage to civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, describing attacks on civilians as clear war crimes.

Raja also stated that the attacks occurred despite ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the United States, underscoring that Iran seeks peace and stability in the region while remaining committed to defending its sovereignty and the legitimate rights of its people.

“We are committed to defending ourselves, and we will do all that we can, but Iran is not a country seeking war. We are seeking peace and stability for the region,” he said.

He concluded that the Iranian people will not submit to aggression and will continue to support a just and peaceful global order based on respect for international law.