Former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has strongly criticised recent remarks from the United States that appeared to threaten Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing the rhetoric as a violation of both international and U.S. law.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Akinyemi warned that threatening to assassinate a sitting head of state is legally and diplomatically unacceptable. “It is against international law to threaten to assassinate a head of state. Incidentally, it is also against American law,” he said.
He referenced a U.S. Senate investigation into the CIA’s alleged involvement in global assassinations, which ultimately led to laws prohibiting such actions. “It was concluded then that it was against American law to assassinate or threaten to assassinate a head of state,” he noted.
Citing remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump directed at the Iranian leader, Akinyemi questioned the implications of such threats. “Here is an American president telling the Ayatollah, ‘We know where you are, and our patience is running out.’ What does that mean?” he asked.
Akinyemi further accused Washington of contributing to the escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran. “Rather than acting as a peacemaker, the United States has effectively given Israel a green light to act, risking the outbreak of a global war,” he warned.
Describing Trump’s approach to international diplomacy as unpredictable and dangerous, Akinyemi recalled an earlier interview where he identified Iran’s Ayatollah and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu as the two most dangerous leaders at the time. “Had Trump been president then, I would have named three,” he added.
“In diplomacy, unpredictability is the most dangerous trait—especially when it comes from the most powerful person in the world,” Akinyemi said, describing Trump’s abrupt exits from global meetings as unsettling to international peace and order.
On potential U.S. military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, Akinyemi criticised the shifting language from Washington. “They initially claimed they weren’t consulted. Then it became, ‘We were informed.’ Now it’s, ‘We have conquered Iran’s airspace.’ This is deception by evolution,” he said.
Addressing Iran’s possible withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Akinyemi expressed his long-standing skepticism about the treaty, describing it as discriminatory.
“The NPT was never my favourite. It locks weaker nations into that status while powerful countries maintain a monopoly on nuclear arms,” he argued, pointing out that countries like India, Pakistan, and Israel had developed nuclear capabilities outside the treaty system.
“Countries that want nuclear arms should just make sure they’re not opposing the U.S. or its allies. Then, they’ll get away with it,” he said.
Akinyemi reiterated his opposition to Nigeria’s decision to sign the NPT. “I was against it then, and I still am. It does us no good if we are content to remain weak.”
In response to a viewer’s question on America’s shifting stance on Iran’s nuclear programme—having supported it under the Shah but now opposing it—Akinyemi said such contradictions reflect the double standards entrenched in global diplomacy.
“Diplomacy is built on double standards. The strong prevail, the weak suffer. That’s the world order,” he said, emphasizing the importance of building power through both economic and strategic strength.
Reflecting on his earlier advocacy for Nigeria to pursue nuclear capability, Akinyemi said time had vindicated his position. “People once said I needed my head examined. But leaders like General Babangida and General Abacha supported me because they saw no reason for Nigeria to remain among the world’s weak nations,” he said.
He concluded with a bold assertion: “Nigeria has the bomb.”
Nzubechukwu Eze
