By Muhammad Mamman
Iran has expressed readiness to assist Nigeria in tackling terrorism, with its envoy in Abuja saying Tehran is willing to share its experience in combating extremist groups operating in the region.
Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria, made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television, where he reiterated Tehran’s willingness to cooperate with the Nigerian government in confronting security threats.
Raja said Iran condemns terrorism in all its forms and stands ready to lend support to countries facing insurgent violence, including Nigeria.
“We are ready to lend a helping hand,” the envoy said, noting that Iran has significant experience dealing with terrorism and is willing to share that expertise with Nigerian authorities. 
Nigeria has been battling insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province for more than a decade, particularly in the country’s northeast, where attacks have displaced millions and strained security forces. 
The ambassador also addressed concerns about alleged Iranian influence among Islamic groups in Nigeria. According to Raja, the relationship between such groups and Iran is purely spiritual and cultural, not political.
He explained that recent demonstrations by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were expressions of religious solidarity rather than evidence of political alignment with Tehran. 
“These gatherings reflect a moral and spiritual connection among Muslims,” Raja said, stressing that they should not be interpreted as Iranian political backing for local organisations.
The envoy further emphasised that Iran itself has been a victim of terrorism and has consistently condemned extremist attacks across Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world.
He added that cooperation between countries confronting similar threats is essential to addressing the global challenge of terrorism and improving security in affected regions. 
Raja’s comments come amid wider geopolitical tensions and accusations by some foreign officials that Iran sponsors extremist networks in West Africa — claims Tehran has strongly rejected as unfounded. 
Iran and Nigeria have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with both countries exploring areas of cooperation in security, trade, education and technology. 
