Trump Faults CNN’s  Ceasefire Report, Links Source To Unnamed Nigerian Media Outlet

 

 

Gabriel Ogunlana

 

The controversial report on the Iran-US ceasefire has drawn tQogvhe ire of the United States President Donald Trump who has alleged the viral news item originated from a “fake news site” in the country.

 

Trump made this claim while flaying the CNN for insinuating that the US had no option but to accept the ceasefire as Iran had recorded victory against its adversaries in the Middle East war.

 

The truce agreement was announced late Tuesday, about two hours before a deadline the US helmsman had earlier set for possible military action against Iran.

 

The CNN attributed its claim that oil-rich Middle East nation had recorded a major victory in the war to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

 

 

According to the report, the council said: “The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat.”

 

The statement also suggested that Iran forced the United States to accept a 10-point plan.

 

However, Trump dismissed the report, alleging it was based on unverified information traced to Nigeria.

 

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

 

“The false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria) and, of course, immediately picked up by CNN, and blared out as a ‘legitimate’ headline.”

 

Meanwhile, Trump’s claim has thrust Nigeria to the global spotlight, though the US president did not mention the news outlet name.

 

Reacting to the CNN’s claim, Trump described the source of the news as “a new, trouble making site from Nigeria,” but did not name the platform or provide evidence to support the claim.

 

He also called on CNN to withdraw the report, noting that authorities were examining whether the publication could amount to a legal violation.

 

However, despite not naming the Nigerian media outlet cited as the source of the fake news, Trump’s opinion has placed Nigeria’s digital media landscape under close scrutiny from the US and other superpowers.

 

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has made clarifications on the conditions for the ceasefire agreement.

 

 

Aragahchi made Tehran’s position known in a separate statement made on Tuesday acknowledging  diplomatic engagement.

 

He thanked Pakistan for its mediation role and signalled conditional de-escalation.

 

“If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations,” Araghchi said.

 

“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

 

Araghchi said he spoke on behalf of the SNSC, Iran’s top national security body.

 

Meanwhile, Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also published a statement attributed to the council, echoing similar language reported earlier.

 

“The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation,” the statement read.