Oluwo of Iwo Tells Trump to Apologise to Iran Over U.S.–Israel War

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has publicly called on U.S. President Donald Trump to issue an apology to the Islamic Republic of Iran for what he described as Washington’s siding with Israel in the current Middle East war.

In a statement obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, Oba Akanbi described the conflict — which escalated sharply after joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian targets — as “needless” and condemned the killing of Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He labelled the death of a sovereign nation’s leader a “sin against humanity.”

The traditional ruler argued that a powerful world nation should not have taken sides but ought to have called for peace and dialogue instead. He claimed the combined military action by the U.S. and Israel has already impacted the global economy, with airports disrupted and travellers stranded, and warned that further escalation could jeopardise international stability.

Oba Akanbi said the United States appears to have lost its moral standing as a neutral world power by openly supporting one side, urging Trump to apologise not only to Iran but to “the world at large” for what he described as an avoidable confrontation.

His position mirrors broader criticism from some global leaders and analysts. For instance, other international voices have called for de-escalation and respect for international law, arguing that the attacks could have far-reaching humanitarian and economic consequences.

The conflict itself has drawn diverse reactions; while U.S. officials insist military objectives are limited to degrading Iranian military capabilities, critics in the United States and elsewhere have challenged both the rationale and the long-term strategy behind the campaign.