Tensions Rise as US Critiques South Africa's Military Ties with Iran

Fri Jan 16 2026 21:04:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amidst ongoing naval exercises involving Iranian warships in South Africa, the US government expresses serious concerns over the country's military relations with Iran. South Africa has initiated an inquiry into claims of non-compliance with government orders regarding these ships.

The United States has accused South Africa's defense ministry of failing to comply with government orders to disband Iranian naval exercises off its coast. In response, South Africa has launched an inquiry into these allegations. The US highlights the irony of South Africa's relations with Iran amid ongoing protests against the Iranian regime. This situation raises questions about South Africa's stance on human rights and regional stability as it navigates relationships with major developing nations.

The US has accused South Africa's defence ministry of refusing to obey orders from its own government to send home Iranian warships that have been conducting naval exercises in the African country's waters.

South Africa can't lecture the world on 'justice' while cozying up to Iran, it said in a statement.

In response, South Africa's defence ministry stated it was launching an inquiry to investigate the root of these serious allegations.

Washington has criticized South Africa for inviting Iran at a time when a brutal crackdown against protests was happening in the Middle Eastern country.

It said the South African military's actions did not amount to non-alignment but were instead a choice to stand with Iran.

This is absolutely no surprise. Protests against the Iranian regime are happening right now, human rights organisations here in SA have been calling for support for the protesters, William Gumede, an associate professor at the University of Witwatersrand, commented.

In the strongly worded statement posted on its social media accounts, the US embassy in South Africa indicated it noted with concern and alarm reports that the country's defence minister and its defence forces had defied government orders to ask Iran to leave.

The US embassy characterized Iran's participation in the exercises as unconscionable as it suppresses protests back home, drawing parallels to the peaceful political activities South Africans fought for in their own struggle.

On Friday, the office of Defence Minister Angie Motshekga conveyed that President Cyril Ramaphosa's instructions were clearly communicated and agreed upon with every concerned party.

Dubbed Peace Resolve, the week-long naval drill commenced last Friday, led by China and involving other nations from the alliance known as Brics+, including Russia.

This alliance, formed to challenge Western political and economic power, includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and more recently, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

Iranian warships had already arrived in Cape Town when the order to turn them around reportedly came through.