The United States has accused South Africa’s defence authorities of defying government directives by allowing Iranian warships to participate in naval exercises in the country’s waters, sparking fresh diplomatic tension between Washington and Pretoria.
In a strongly worded statement, the US said South Africa could not claim a moral high ground on global justice while “cosying up to Iran,” especially at a time when Iranian authorities are facing international condemnation over the violent suppression of domestic protests.
According to the US, South Africa’s defence ministry allegedly failed to carry out instructions from President Cyril Ramaphosa to ask Iranian naval vessels to leave, arguing that the move went beyond a policy of non-alignment and instead reflected a deliberate alignment with Tehran.
South Africa’s defence ministry has rejected the accusations and announced the launch of an internal investigation to establish the facts behind what it described as “serious allegations.”
The controversy centres on a week-long multinational naval exercise dubbed Peace Resolve, which began last Friday. The drill is led by China and includes several members of the Brics+ alliance, among them Russia and Iran. Iranian warships had reportedly already docked in Cape Town when the directive to turn them away was issued.
US officials argue that Iran’s participation undermines maritime security and regional stability, adding that it is “unconscionable” for Tehran to be welcomed abroad while cracking down on political dissent at home. The US embassy compared the protests in Iran to the peaceful political freedoms South Africans fought to achieve.
Local analysts say the situation exposes contradictions in South Africa’s foreign policy. Associate Professor William Gumede of the University of the Witwatersrand noted that while the governing ANC has been vocal in criticising some governments for rights abuses, it has remained largely silent on events unfolding in Iran.
Meanwhile, the office of Defence Minister Angie Motshekga stated that President Ramaphosa’s instructions had been clearly communicated, agreed upon, and were expected to be fully implemented by all parties involved.
The incident adds to growing scrutiny of South Africa’s role within the expanding Brics+ bloc, which now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, and positions itself as a counterweight to Western political and economic influence.