Nigeria summons Iran diplomats over seized arms
Israeli had accused Iran of trying to sneak the shipment into Gaza Strip, but Nigeria now suspect a domestic plot.
By News Agencies Tags: Israel news IranNigeria summoned Iran's ambassador on Thursday over an arms shipment it seized last month and the Iranian foreign minister is expected to take part in the discussions, a Nigerian official and foreign diplomats said.
Nigeria's secret service intercepted 13 containers in the main port of Lagos two weeks ago which were found to contain rocket launchers, grenades and other explosives and ammunition.
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an illegal arms shipment seized by authorities in Lagos, Nigeria. |
| Photo by: AP |
Immediately after the arms seizure, Israeli officials accused Iran of trying to sneak the shipment into the Gaza Strip, but Nigeria's security service now believes the arms were imported by some local politicians to destabilize Nigeria if they lose in the coming general elections.
French-based shipping group CMA CGM later said the containers, which were labelled as building materials, had been loaded in Iran by a local trader.
"The Iranian ambassador has been summoned...and he is holding a meeting with the (Nigerian) foreign affairs minister," said an official at the Foreign Ministry, who refused to be named.
"Part of the agenda of the meeting is the issue of the shipment of explosives and the visit of the foreign affairs minister of Iran," the official said.
Diplomats in New York said Iran would appear to be in breach of the United Nations sanctions regime, which forbids it from exporting any kind of weapons directly or indirectly, if the seized weapons were originally loaded on its territory.
But they said it was difficult to assess the case because Nigeria had not yet notified the U.N. Security Council's Iran sanctions committee about the seizure.
An official at the Iranian embassy in Abuja confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was in Nigeria but declined to comment further.
A diplomat with access to intelligence on Iran told Reuters in New York Mottaki had gone to Abuja to discuss the seized arms and to secure permission from the Nigerians to bring two Iranians linked to the shipment back to Tehran.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition that neither his name nor nationality be identified, said the two Iranians were at the Iranian embassy in Abuja and that Tehran appeared reluctant to have them questioned by Nigerian authorities.
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It is lucky that Israel does not have to "sneak in" the 3billion dollars worth of arms it uses to kill Palestinians in Gaza prison, Lebanese trying to live in their own land, anyone else it chooses to blame.
Nigeria,dont be trapped into this pit that the zionist and americans have dug..they want there to be a confrontation btw Naija and iran..its one of the soft wars..all in an effort to discredit iran and put a wedge btween it and the largest black country in the world....Please be cautiuos...Israel/America is dangerous..
In either case Iran takes the hit. Helping to smuggle arms into Gaza or helping to destablize Nigeria.
It seems like Iran is getting its fair share of international problems. NIgeria arms smuggling, HIzballah indictments on the horizon, Syrian complicity in Harrari's murder. Is it possible that there are serious back door deals being made to keep Assads hands clean? Is it also possible that Iran is in for a lot of trouble at the UN beyond what they currently are experiencing now? Add to that the massive buildup of U.S. Naval forces in the Persian Gulf and you get a clear message.....BACK OFF!!!
So if Mottaki is pressing Nigeria to let two Iranian men involved with the incident be given safe return back to Iran, then that's all the more reason to grab these two high ranking Revolutionary Guard agents by the scruff of their neck and throw them into hot interrogation seats in a detention center till they start singing like birds. Wonder how much Iran is offering as a bribe to Nigerian officials to get their way?
Beginning to demise for iran's midget...
Typical Israeli tactic: when in doubt, blame Iran.
The story is a back page one, and the story is not that Nigeria is 'demanding' anything, rather Iran is cooperating. I guess the story changes depending upon who is writing it. It is still not clear WHO or WHERE the shipment was destine to. Chad, Sudan, and Nigerian rebels are all at least as suspect as Hamas. Indeed, Nigeria seems more concerned with the idea that their rebels might have been the destination.
because it threatens nations not even related to Israel or the Mideast conflict.
Be it Nigeria or Lebanon, by politics or violence.
Enough private French collaboration. Enough impunity and blind eyes. Game over for Iran. Knock this regime out.
Try them and put them in jail, after which they must be Kicked out. Iran is rubbish and amy export terrorism to Nigeria
Read George Soros' books on his perception of a "New World Order." He speaks of a need for HIM to ally with countries like Iran, China, and Venezuela to take control of the world's markets and create one world country with guess who at the helm. He also speaks of the need to control the US from the top, namely his control over Obama, while at the same time controlling the rank and file (namely the unions), and the media. Soros has taken control of the NPR. He also tried but failed when he started Air America. He has already caused the collapse or near collapse of 4 world economies, including the Brits in the late 80s early 90s. Interesting bedfellows. Sound familiar? Communism started the very same way and incarcerated billions of people and killed tens of millions. The Iranians and Venezuelans have shown they have no issue with genocide. Soros has shown he has no issue with genocide as long as he gets to control. And Obama, well Obama has proven himself to be a puppet to the Soros puppet master.