Recent reports from the French daily, Le Monde, reveal that Iran is eyeing uranium from Niger, with the Kremlin playing a pivotal role in fostering relations between the two countries. This development has garnered close attention from Western powers, particularly the United States and France.
Since the military coup in July 2023, Niger's junta has been engaged in "confidential negotiations" with Iran © Mena Today
Recent reports from the French daily, Le Monde, reveal that Iran is eyeing uranium from Niger, with the Kremlin playing a pivotal role in fostering relations between the two countries. This development has garnered close attention from Western powers, particularly the United States and France.
Since the military coup in July 2023, Niger's junta has been engaged in "confidential negotiations" with Iran concerning the delivery of 300 tonnes of yellowcake, a concentrated form of uranium.
These discussions, valued at approximately $56 million (€52 million), were initially uncovered by U.S. intelligence agencies in early 2024.
The matter was subsequently brought to public attention by the Nigerien junta itself on April 16, during a national television broadcast where military officials refuted what they called "false allegations" from Washington that suggested a secret uranium deal with Iran.
Further complicating the geopolitical landscape, Western official sources claim that Russia has played a crucial role in the uranium negotiations.
Under its new designation, ‘Africa Corps’, formerly known as Wagner, Moscow has dispatched mercenaries to Niger.
These moves underscore the close relations between Moscow and Tehran, signaling a potential shift in regional power dynamics in West Africa.
Iran's ambitions do not stop at Niger. The Islamic Republic has also made overtures towards Burkina Faso, another West African country currently governed by a junta that is openly hostile to Western interests. These developments are creating a hotspot of threats in West Africa, as Iran seeks to expand its influence in the region.
The situation unfolding in West Africa, with Iran's growing interest in uranium and Russia’s involvement, poses significant challenges for Western foreign policy in the region.
By Sarah Niedweis
An Iranian proposal so far rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade of Iran while leaving talks on Iran's nuclear programme for later, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi was in an Iranian hospital after a "catastrophic deterioration of her health," including a "cardiac crisis", a foundation run by her family said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was not satisfied with the latest Iranian proposal for talks on the Iran war, while Iran's foreign minister said Tehran was ready for diplomacy if the United States changes its approach.
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