Former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has condemned recent statements by the United States that appeared to threaten the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that such rhetoric violates both international and American law.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Professor Akinyemi said, “It is against international law to threaten to assassinate a head of state. And incidentally, it is also against American law.”

He recalled that after the CIA’s involvement in global assassinations became public, “Senator was asked to set up a committee, and arising out of that committee, it was decided that it was against American law to assassinate or threaten to assassinate a head of state.”*

Referencing US President Donald Trump’s comments aimed at the Ayatollah, Akinyemi said, “Here is an American president saying to the Ayatollah, who is the head of state of Iran, ‘we know where you are, and our patience is running out.’ What does that mean? That you are going to go out? And yet, if they want to assassinate you, oh well, then the whole world and hell will break down upon their head.”

Akinyemi also warned that Washington’s posture is escalating the Iran-Israel conflict: “Rather than being an agent of peace and reconciliation, the United States is the one that has, by giving Israel the nod to go ahead and do what it has to do with Iran, become the one who is about to precipitate World War.”

The former minister criticised Trump’s unpredictability and theatrical diplomacy, calling him one of the most dangerous figures on the global stage.

“About four years ago, on this very programme, you asked me to name the two most dangerous people in the world. And I didn’t hesitate to name Netanyahu and the Ayatollah in Iran,” he said.

“Of course, at that time, I don’t think that Donald Trump was the President of the United States, or else I would have asked to be allowed to name three most dangerous people, and I would have put him there.”

“In diplomacy, the most dangerous time for everyone is when you cannot predict the behaviour of the people you are dealing with, especially the most powerful man in the world, which is Donald Trump,” he added.

He continued, “Now, you are attending a meeting of probably the most powerful nations in the world, and what do you do? You abandon them, and you come back to Washington… You now wanted to put the world on edge that you are about to do something unpredictable.”

On the possibility of a US military intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict, he said the language from Washington had evolved deceptively: “You started off deceiving us by saying you were not really consulted. Then it became, ‘they did it and informed us.’ But they didn’t say ‘we approved it.’ And now the language has become, ‘we have conquered the airspace of Iran.’”

Asked about Iran’s possible withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Professor Akinyemi was scathing in his assessment of the global nuclear regime.

“The Non-Proliferation Treaty has never really been one of my favourite treaties, simply because what it does is the poor, weak countries are locked into that weak status, while the important and powerful countries are asked to have the monopoly of nuclear weapons,” he said.

“It’s sheer hypocrisy. If you’re on their side, you probably can break that monopoly and get away with it. India has done so, Pakistan has done so, and even Israel has done so—but without admitting it. So why should some countries have the right to the monopoly of nuclear weapons and others do not?”

He noted, “Countries that want to break the monopoly, just make sure you are not against the United States or one of its minions—you will get away with it.”

He reiterated that he opposed Nigeria’s decision to sign the NPT: “I opposed when Nigeria signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Unfortunately, we are still a signatory to that treaty, and it’s not going to do us any good unless we are happy to stay as we are.”

Responding to a viewer’s question about America’s double standards—having helped Iran start its nuclear programme under the Shah, only to oppose it later—Akinyemi remarked, “The world is never going to evolve beyond double standards. Diplomacy is double standards. The weak get clobbered and the strong get away. That’s how the world was created and it will continue to be that way.”

He added, “That is why some of us had always emphasised the need to have power—to build your own state on power. That is not to say you ignore your economy. In fact, the stronger your economy is, the stronger your power base can be.”

Recalling his own advocacy for a Nigerian nuclear programme decades ago, Akinyemi stated, “Of course, it is vindicated. In fact, there were people who said I should have my head examined. But I must say also that General Babangida supported me. General Abacha supported me, because they found no reason why we should be among the weak nations of the world.” (AriseNews TV)