Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, has rejected claims circulating from independent sources about the death toll from recent protests, emphasizing that only official government figures are credible. While activist groups put the number at over 20,000, Iranian authorities report roughly 3,000 fatalities.
Speaking at the Iranian Embassy in Abuja, Raja said the government’s statistics are the only reliable information. “The important information for us is the official information which we received from the government. The government announced that number two days ago. Anybody can say anything,” he remarked.
The ambassador also addressed the temporary internet blackout imposed during the protests. He explained that the shutdown was brief, targeted, and carried out strictly for national security purposes, aimed at preventing coordination between domestic protest groups and external sponsors. “From January 8 to 10, there were armed protests and some terrorist acts,” Raja said. “Authorities cut off internet links between Iran and the outside world to disrupt connections between terrorist groups inside the country and their external sponsors.”
Raja added that the measure helped stabilize the situation, and internet services have since been gradually restored. “Now, internet connection is normal, step by step, since last week,” he noted, stressing that security considerations took precedence over other concerns.
Rejecting criticism of Iran’s handling of the protests, the ambassador argued that no nation would compromise its sovereignty in matters of internal security. “Internal security is more important than anything. It’s not negotiable. We cannot bargain,” he said. “Each country would not negotiate about internal security with others. The same as your country—for sovereignty, integrity, and security.”
Raja also accused foreign powers, specifically the United States and Israel, of instigating unrest and sending hostile intelligence agents into Iran. “We are receiving threats from the United States and the Zionist regime,” he stated. “Without any doubt. They announced it themselves.”
Concluding his remarks, the ambassador maintained that the situation in Iran has returned to normal. “The current situation in Iran is normal and under control,” he said, adding that the country remains committed to peace and regional stability despite ongoing external threats.
