Nigeria Threatens Iran Over Arms Smuggling

Nigerian foreign minister is threatening action against Iran if it violated international law and U.N. sanctions in an arms smuggling case.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia told a news conference Friday that Iran's foreign minister has authorized Nigerian officials to interview one of two Iranians implicated in the arms shipment discovered in a Nigerian port last month. Ajumogobia says the other man has diplomatic immunity. Nigerian authorities believe both men are hiding in the Iranian Embassy.

"If Nigeria finds at the conclusion of the investigation that there has been a breach of international law, a breach of U.N. sanctions, Nigeria is a member of the U.N. Security Council (and) we will do what is necessary," Ajumogobia said.

Obama Signs New Iran Sanctions Into Law

The U.N. Security Council imposed a fourth round of tough sanctions against Iran in June over its refusal to halt Uranium enrichment.

The sanctions ban Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bar Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining, and prohibit Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles.

Iran was already prohibited from shipping and obtaining weapons materials by earlier UN sanctions.