Trump drags Nigeria into row with CNN over Iran ‘victory’ claim

Composite picture of US President Donald Trump and Nigeria's Bola Tinubu

United States President Donald Trump has drawn Nigeria into a media dispute with CNN over a controversial report on Iran’s position following a ceasefire agreement.

The row erupted on Wednesday after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, aimed at paving the way for negotiations.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump dismissed a statement aired by CNN, attributed to Iranian authorities, which suggested that Tehran had secured a significant victory in the conflict.

“The alleged statement put out by CNN World News is a fraud, as CNN well knows,” he said.

Trump further alleged that the report originated from “a fake news site (from Nigeria)” and was “immediately picked up by CNN” and presented as a legitimate headline. He insisted that the version broadcast by the network did not reflect Iran’s official position, adding that what he described as the “official statement” had been shared separately on his platform.

In a follow-up post, the US president intensified his criticism, accusing CNN of publishing a “knowingly false and dangerous statement” that could inflame tensions during a sensitive period.

He also called on the network to withdraw the report and issue an apology, suggesting that authorities were examining whether any wrongdoing was involved in its publication.

The disputed report, attributed to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, claimed that Tehran had inflicted a “historic and crushing defeat” on the United States and compelled Washington to accept elements of its proposed negotiation framework.

CNN, however, stood by its report and declined to retract the story.

A spokesperson for the network said the report was based on information obtained directly from Iranian officials and corroborated by multiple state media outlets.

“We received the statement from specific official Iranian spokespeople who are known to us,” the spokesperson said, adding that versions of the statement were widely circulated in both English and Farsi across Iranian platforms.

The network maintained that it followed standard journalistic practices and relied on verified sources in publishing the report.

The controversy has drawn attention in Nigeria following Trump’s claim, although he did not provide evidence to support the allegation that the report originated from a Nigerian-based platform.

Backing the president, Brendan Carr, Chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission, criticised CNN’s handling of the report, calling for accountability over what he described as a hoax headline.

The development comes amid global reactions to the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, widely viewed as a step towards de-escalation, even as both sides continue to claim success in the conflict.

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