A diplomatic rift has opened between the United States and South Africa following revelations that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) appears to have contravened a government directive concerning Iran’s participation in multinational naval drills.
The controversy stems from the ongoing BRICS naval exercise near Simon’s Town. According to a South African government source, Iran was asked to withdraw from the drills. This order was later defied when the SANDF posted a statement on its official Facebook page confirming that the Iranian corvette Naghdi had taken part in the sea phase of the exercise.
The United States responded with sharp criticism. In a statement posted on X, the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria said it had noted the reports with “concern and alarm.” The embassy’s statement labeled Iran as “a destabilizing actor and state sponsor of terror,” arguing that its inclusion in the joint exercises “undermined maritime security and regional stability.”
The U.S. statement delivered a strongly-worded rebuke of South Africa’s engagement with Tehran. It described as “unconscionable” that South Africa would welcome Iranian security forces while, it claimed, those same forces were “shooting, jailing, and torturing Iranian citizens” engaged in peaceful protest. The embassy argued that South Africa’s actions contradicted its own hard-won democratic principles and its advocacy for global justice.
Furthermore, the U.S. statement directly questioned South Africa’s stated foreign policy of non-alignment. It asserted that “permitting Iranian military forces to operate in South African waters” calls that non-aligned framing into question, accusing Pretoria of “standing with the regime that brutally represses its people and engages in terrorism.”
The incident highlights apparent internal discord within the South African government. The SANDF’s public confirmation of Iran’s participation stands in contrast to the earlier government directive for Iran to withdraw. This military decision also follows a separate, earlier statement from The Presidency, which had expressed concern about developments in Iran and urged both restraint and the protection of citizens’ right to protest peacefully.
The situation places a spotlight on Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, whose department oversees the SANDF. Neither Minister Motshekga’s office nor the SANDF has provided a public explanation for the decision to proceed with Iran’s involvement despite the initial government order.
As of now, the South African government has not issued an official response to the U.S. Embassy’s accusations. The unfolding dispute raises significant questions about command authority, foreign policy coherence, and South Africa’s strategic partnerships on the international stage.