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
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced legislation Thursday that would authorize up to $1.2 billion in security assistance to Lebanon over five years, with part of the funding conditioned on Beirut's progress toward a state monopoly on arms and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at displacement camps and residential neighbourhoods in the city of Marib on Friday, killing two people and wounding 14, state news agency SABA reported, citing local authorities.
Iran said on Saturday that a deal with Oman on control of the Strait of Hormuz was close but would not be enough to free up the waterway, and the United Arab Emirates said Iran had hit another ship there.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.