Pretoria – The US embassy in Pretoria has criticised South Africa for allowing Iranian warships into False Bay (Cape Town) for joint naval exercises with Russia and China — despite a government order to exclude Iran, which SANDF allegedly defied (later deleting a confirming post).
The embassy called Iran a “destabilising terror sponsor” and SA’s move “unconscionable” while Tehran shoots, jails, and tortures protesters —rights SA champions.
“The United States notes with concern and alarm reports that the Minister of Defence and SANDF defied a government order regarding Iran’s participation in the ongoing naval exercises. Iran is a destabilising actor and state sponsor of terror, and its inclusion in joint exercises – in any capacity – undermines maritime security and regional stability,” the US embassy said in a post on X.
And permitting Iranian military forces to operate in South African waters — or going to Tehran and expressing solidarity — isn’t ‘non-alignment’: it’s choosing to stand with a regime that brutally represses its people and engages in terrorism.
— US Embassy SA (@USEmbassySA) January 15, 2026
It warned of undermined security and hypocrisy in SA’s “non-alignment.”
“South Africa can’t lecture the world on ‘justice’ while cosying up to Iran.
“And permitting Iranian military forces to operate in South African waters — or going to Tehran and expressing solidarity — isn’t ‘non-alignment’: it’s choosing to stand with a regime that brutally represses its people and engages in terrorism,” the embassy said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya voiced South Africa’s deep concern over Iran’s unrest and rising death toll Thursday.
He urged all sides to show maximum restraint, stressing that peaceful protest, free expression, and association are universal rights Iran must protect.
“The reports of unrest and the subsequent loss of life are concerning, and South Africa urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint. South Africa firmly believes that the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are universal human rights that must be upheld without exception.
“We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that citizens exercise their right to protest in peace,” Magwenya said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
