ABUJA, Nigeria — A former Nigerian diplomat, Ambassador Joe Keshi, has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of fueling the current conflict with Iran by cancelling a nuclear agreement brokered under former President Barack Obama, suggesting Trump was motivated in part by personal and political grievances, March 2, 2026.

Keshi made the remarks during an appearance on Arise News, where he criticized what he described as the “irresponsibility of the world powers” in escalating global tensions.

“I think the world is in such a state we are now, in my view, because of the irresponsibility of the world powers, who now think that because they are powerful, they have the right and the privilege to do whatever they want within the international system,” Keshi said.

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He referenced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the recent U.S.-Israel military actions against Iran, arguing that the current Middle East crisis can be traced back to Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiated by Obama.

“Four or five years ago, he cancelled the Iranian deal made by Obama, which, by the way, was working perfectly well,” Keshi said, noting that the International Atomic Energy Agency had reported Iran was complying with the agreement at the time.

According to Keshi, Trump’s decision was influenced by pressure from Israel and a desire to dismantle Obama-era policies.

“But Donald Trump came and cancelled it for two reasons. One, because of Israel’s pressure. Netanyahu is his very good friend,” he said. “Secondly, because Donald Trump wants his name… and one of his major problems is that a black man became president before him, and that has remained so painful to him that anything Obama did, he was prepared to take it out.”

Keshi also questioned the stated justification for renewed military action against Iran, particularly claims about its nuclear capabilities.

“The truth of the matter is that the same Donald Trump, when he bombed the Iranians last year, told us that he had obliterated Iran’s nuclear development,” he said. “So there was nothing more to do.”

He accused the United States and Israel of pursuing regime change in Iran, describing it as a recurring strategy that has failed in other countries.

“America has attempted regime change so many times, and it has failed. Afghanistan is a typical example. Libya is a typical example. Iraq is a typical example, and this is the latest,” Keshi said.

He cited Trump’s reported call for the Iranian people to “take over their country,” questioning the feasibility of such a move without a clear post-conflict plan.

“So here we are again with the possibility of another American miscalculation taking place,” he said.

Keshi maintained that Iran did not pose a direct threat to the United States and argued that longstanding tensions between Israel and Iran have driven the current escalation.

“Iran, we must emphasise, was not a threat to the United States in any way except that Netanyahu, since he became prime minister, has always wanted to go after Iran, and that’s exactly what we are doing today,” he said.

The comments add to growing international debate over the origins and implications of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.