Falana Warns: US–Iran Tensions Could Spark Global Crisis

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has raised the alarm over the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, warning that the situation could trigger a major global crisis if urgent diplomatic interventions are not pursued.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Falana highlighted the geopolitical and economic risks of the conflict, with particular concern for Nigeria and the global economy.

He accused the U.S. leadership of disregarding international law, describing the current situation as extremely dangerous.

“As far as the war is concerned, we are in a very serious crisis. We have a situation where a man who disrespects the constitution of his own country and flouts international law is in the White House,” Falana said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Falana said Trump undermines international legal norms by allegedly making unilateral military decisions without congressional approval, threatening judges who rule against him, and bypassing legal frameworks in matters of war.

“The consequence of such actions is a destabilised international order. Aggressive foreign policy decisions of this nature could ignite wider conflicts,” he warned.

The senior lawyer also drew attention to the implications of the crisis on global energy supply, especially disruptions around the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He cautioned that the tensions could have significant economic effects on countries like Nigeria, which rely heavily on global oil markets and imported refined petroleum products.

Falana criticised Nigeria’s energy management, questioning why the country continues to depend on imported fuel despite its oil wealth and investments in refining infrastructure.

“If we claim to have four refineries, nobody is talking about them anymore. The NNPC now relies almost entirely on the Dangote Refinery. After spending $2.9 billion on refinery maintenance, why are we back to importing fuel?” he asked.

He urged the Nigerian government to strengthen national security institutions instead of depending on external powers to maintain law and order.

“Nigeria must wake up. Unless we reorganise our country and equip our armed forces and police, no imperialist power will ensure peace and order here,” Falana added.

He further called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to engage diplomatically with other global powers to prevent the conflict from escalating. According to him, Nigeria should work with countries like China and Russia to push for negotiations between the United States and Iran.

“Our duty as a nation is to collaborate with others to promote diplomacy and encourage countries such as China and Russia to intervene,” Falana said.

He warned that a failure to pursue diplomatic solutions could lead to a broader global confrontation.

“If this war continues, we may be staring at a third world war, and everyone will bear the consequences,” Falana cautioned.

The SAN also suggested that prolonged conflict could have domestic political implications for the U.S., noting that Trump risks losing his mid-term elections if the war continues.

Falana concluded by urging world leaders to prioritise diplomacy and dialogue to safeguard global peace and economic stability.