…I am of the view that the Nigerian government approached the Israel-Iran war in the appropriate manner. When Israel launched its attack on Iran, the Federal Government issued a condemnation of that act; and this is precisely as it should be, not because it was interested in taking sides, but it was a step made necessary by the fact that Israel’s action is a clear violation of the UN Charter, as it were. Nigeria went further by calling on the warring parties to de-escalate, and bring the conflict to an end.
It is rather unfortunate that the long-anticipated war between the two sworn enemies in the Middle East – Israel and Iran – eventually got fought. This intervention is not focused on which side is right or wrong – a theme that will continue to be interrogated, for a long time to come. Rather, it is to underscore the questionable circumstances in which the war – which Donald Trump is now dubbing, ‘The 12-Day War’ – was fought. These were particularly quite concerning circumstances, made so by at least three elements.
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First, Iran was actually in negotiations with the US when the first volley of preemptive attacks was launched against it by Israel. Of course, the Trump administration itself chose to hit the Islamic Republic while the latter’s Foreign Minister was in Europe, exploring possible negotiation pathways with the major European powers. These sequences of events cast a very dark pall on the place of diplomacy and, going forward, the trust nations would place on talks and negotiations whenever they find themselves in the vortex of conflicts.
In addition, President Donald Trump’s words would seem not to be his bond; and this is quite significant for US foreign relations, going forward. At the beginning of the imbroglio, he gave the impression that he was not positively disposed to Israel attacking Iran, only to proclaim later, with much glee, on his Truth Social platform, that “WE are in full control of the Iranian skies!” Whether he did this to look strong after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who apparently understands Trump so well, had defied him, or not, is a topic to be addressed later, as more information is made available. The US President also spoke at some point that he was allowing a two-week period of grace for renewed diplomatic efforts, led by the Europeans, to play out before he would decide whether or not to join the bombing spree. Alas, he chose to disregard that solemn commitment and ordered that Iran be attacked, bunker-busted, within the imaginary two weeks! The point here is that the timing of the attacks by Israel and the US has considerably reduced the market value of diplomacy in international relations. There are grave consequences to this.
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The second point of concern relates to the absolute lack of restraint on the part of Israel and the US in choosing to attack nuclear facilities, without regard to the possibility of radiation fallouts, and the wider implications of that for humanity, and the environment. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty expressly prohibits such acts, knowing how damaging they could be.
…the wanton assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and academics by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is quite concerning. It should be roundly condemned, by governments, international organisations, and no less, the global intelligentsia and professoriate. It is one emerging trend that should not become a new normal, because of the grave consequences for research and scholarship, and everything pertaining thereto.
Thirdly, the wanton assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and academics by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is quite concerning. It should be roundly condemned, by governments, international organisations, and no less, the global intelligentsia and professoriate. It is one emerging trend that should not become a new normal, because of the grave consequences for research and scholarship, and everything pertaining thereto. The same goes for attacks on hospitals and schools, a tactic the IDF continues to deploy in Gaza, which significantly, Iran too latched onto, with attacks on at least one hospital in Israel, during the course of the war. This is completely unacceptable. It certainly cannot be evidence of chivalry attacking defenceless people; and I take it as indicative of how low humanity has fallen for trained soldiers to come into the open to justify the dropping bombs on hospitals!
That said, I think the war may serve, or may have served Nigeria well, viewing it strictly from the very narrow national interest point of view. Nigeria is an oil producer, which always stands to benefit anytime the crude oil supply chain is disrupted. But the broader outcome of the war, in the medium to longer terms – if it lingers – may not be as beneficial to Nigeria, and indeed the entire world. This is why it is in everybody’s interest for it to stop as quickly as possible. It is why I endorse the efforts at putting in place a ceasefire. But I dare say that the sense in the declaration by the Iran Foreign Minister that the US attack on Fordow and other Iranian nuclear facilities, would have ‘everlasting consequences,’ should not be lost on anyone. How these would unfold lies in the bosom of time.
Meanwhile, I am of the view that the Nigerian government approached the Israel-Iran war in the appropriate manner. When Israel launched its attack on Iran, the Federal Government issued a condemnation of that act; and this is precisely as it should be, not because it was interested in taking sides, but it was a step made necessary by the fact that Israel’s action is a clear violation of the UN Charter, as it were. Nigeria went further by calling on the warring parties to de-escalate, and bring the conflict to an end. It then set in motion the process of evacuating Nigerian citizens from both Iran and Israel. The Tinubu government acted appropriately and timeously in this regard. It demonstrated sensitivity and clarity of vision on the matter. We need to see more of such proactive, reasonable and realistic patterns in Nigeria’s foreign policy process.
Femi Mimiko is a professor of Political Science, at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and member, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru. E-mail: [email protected]; @FemiMimiko
