Did Iranian President Warn Tinubu to Stay Away From War With Israel? Social Media Claim Fact-Checked
- The Iranian president has been accused of warning and threatening President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take away from the war with Israel
- The claim was made by TikTok user @leakyviber in a video with the caption, “Iranian president to Nigeria: ‘Don't involve yourself in this’
- The social media claim was fact-checked, and it was found to be false with no evidence to back up the claim
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
The Iranian president has been said to have warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to get Nigeria involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
A TikTok user, @leakyviber, made the claim in a video posted on the popular social media platform on June 19, 2025.
Source: Twitter
The video was accompanied by this caption:
“Iranian president to Nigeria: ‘Don't involve yourself in this’”, alongside photos of former Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, and the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu.”
According to Africa Check, while speaking in the video, the man says:
Breaking news. Iran's president has decided to respond to Nigeria, specifically the president of Nigeria, Tinubu, and he has sent a strong warning to Tinubu not to get involve in this war between Iran, Israel, and the USA. Now, why is Nigeria looking for a war that they will not end? Tinubu, why are you looking for a war that you will not end? Now, he has said that […] the Iran president has said that Nigeria is just a small nation in Africa where he can use only one missile to end it.
"Now, this is a warning to our African countries. Please don’t involve. This is not our war. Please, this is not our war. Nigerians, please advise your own president, Tinubu, to walk out of this war.”
Verification
Did the Iranian President ever issue a warning to Nigeria or President Tinubu over the war and conflict with Israel?
The photo of the late former Iranian Raisi was used alongside the caption to show he issued the warning and threat to Nigeria.
The current president of the Islamic Republic of Iran is Masoud Pezeshkian and not Raisi.
However, Raisi died in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024, while the war started on 13 June 2025, Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and military infrastructure.
A dead president couldn’t have issued a threat and warning a year after his death.
Also, no credible media house or platform reported that the Iranian president issued such a derogatory threat to Nigeria and President Tinubu.
Source: TikTok
Conclusion
After carefully studying the video, photo, and text, it is obvious that the claim that Iranina President issued a threat to Nigeria and Tinubu is false and unfounded.
There is no evidence that such a threat and warning were ever issued to Nigeria over the Israel-Iran war.
Nigeria condemns Israel’s strike on Iran.
Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria strongly condemned the preemptive strike carried out by Israel on Iran, labeling it a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the entire Middle East.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria expressed serious concern over the retaliatory exchange of missiles and aerial assaults by Israel and Iran.
Nigerian government urged Israel and Iran to exercise restraint, adding that "The path to lasting peace lies in diplomacy, mutual respect, and adherence to international law."
FG announces plans for Nigerians in Israel, Iran.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the federal government announced the plan to immediately evacuate Nigerians in Iran and Israel amid the escalation between the two countries.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the development in a statement on Tuesday, June 17.
Israel and Iran renewed their nuclear war when the former attacked the Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites, killing senior officers and several civilians.
Source: Legit.ng
