By Fortune Abang
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Nigeria has reaffirmed the country’s firm commitment to preserving its stability, security, social calm, and lawful reforms.
It also warned against any form of foreign interference, saying such would further complicate the situation and undermine the interests of nations.
The embassy disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja against backdrop of countering foreign interferences reports considered misleading and biased narratives regarding recent developments inside the country.
According to the embassy, the recent protests which began on Dec. 28, 2025 in several Iranian cities were primarily initiated by bazaar merchants, trade guilds, and groups of citizens with legitimate economic concerns.
It revealed the Iranian security forces acted with maximum restraint to maintain public order and ensure the safety of citizens, while clearly distinguishing between legitimate protests and organized violence.
The embassy said, “This responsible approach reflects the government’s commitment to protecting lives and safeguarding national infrastructure.
“Certain temporary restrictions on internet access were implemented solely to prevent the spread of violence, curb the misuse of digital platforms by terrorist groups and ensure public safety.
“The Iranian nation successfully thwarted this foreign-driven plot through remarkable-resilience and unity by clearly differentiating between legitimate economic demands and organised violence instigated by external actors, thereby upholding national sovereignty and security.
“The government of Iran emphasizes management of domestic developments is a matter of national sovereignty and internal law, and calls upon the international community to adopt responsible approach based on respect for non-interference.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its firm commitment to preserving stability, security, social calm, and lawful reforms, and warns that any form of foreign interference will only further complicate the situation and undermine the interests of nations.”
It said although the peaceful gatherings were in response to rising living costs, the demonstrations conducted within legal and professional frameworks, aimed to express lawful demands and draw attention of authorities to economic challenges.
The embassy added, “Subsequently, these peaceful protests were deliberately diverted and hijacked in an organised manner by terrorist groups and armed elements.
“Benefiting from external support and direction, these groups orchestrated widespread violence against citizens, security forces, and critical infrastructure.”
It decried the tactics by the protesters to have included deliberate arson, destruction of medical facilities, attacks on law enforcement personnel, and extensive damage to urban infrastructure.
According to it, the clear objective of such actions caused human casualties, manufacture false narratives of state violence, and create conditions conducive to foreign intervention.
The embassy also cited official and documented reports on the organised violent acts to have recorded significant loss of lives of number of police, and security personnel with some subjected to particularly brutal attacks involving deliberate arson.
“Numerous shops and properties belonging to ordinary citizens were set on fire, resulting in extensive damage to public infrastructure. Within just three days, 180 ambulances and 53 fire engines were directly attacked and burned.
“In the capital alone, 26 banks and 25 mosques, and in total 53 mosques nationwide, were set on fire.
“Available documents and video evidence confirm the organized distribution of weapons among violent elements, and more than 1,300 firearms were seized from armed terrorists.
“The pattern of these actions including intimidation, indiscriminate destruction, and extreme violence bears clear similarities to the well-known tactics employed by the terrorist group Daesh (ISIS).
“Credible evidence and documented information indicate the U.S. and the Zionist regime played a direct, and active role in provoking, directing, and intensifying these unrests,” it said.
It reiterated that such actions constituted clear violation of international law and the fundamental principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. (NAN)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
