Iranian FM says arms seized in Nigeria a 'misunderstanding'

Iranian FM says arms seized in Nigeria a 'misunderstanding'

2010-11-15 21:49:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Iranian foreign minister on Monday said that the incident involving a shipment of Iranian weapons intercepted in Nigeria was "a misunderstanding."

"An Iranian who works for the private company involved in the case has already given to the Nigerian authorities the relevant explanations and I think the misunderstanding has been resolved," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said during a press conference in Tehran.

Mottaki, who admitted he had discussed the issue during his recent visit to Nigeria, said the incident was caused by "enemies who only want to sour relations between the two countries."

Nigerian authorities discovered last October 13 containers of weapons from Iran allegedly headed for Hamas in Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported, but the shipment was heading to a West African country, according to Mottaki.

"A private company which had sold conventional defense weapons to another country in West Africa had transferred the shipment via Nigeria," Mottaki said.

Nigeria threatened to report Iran to the UN Security Council on Friday if the shipment violated sanctions over Its nuclear program.

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