Inquiry ordered into Iran’s involvement in navy exercises
South Africa’s defence minister has ordered an inquiry into Iran’s participation in recent naval exercises, apparently disobeying the instructions of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the defence ministry said on January 17th, according to Arab Weekly plus agencies.
The investigation follows sharp criticism from the United States over recent drills, which brought together vessels from China, Iran, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates off the coast of Cape Town.
Local media reported that President Ramaphosa had directed the defence minister to withdraw three Iranian warships from the exercises, which were held as Iran faces international condemnation for its deadly crackdown on protesters. Confusion arose in South Africa as the Iranian vessels, along with Russian and Chinese crafts, were seen daily in False Bay alongside other participating ships, although the defence ministry is still yet to clarify their role.
The drills took place at a politically sensitive moment, as US lawmakers debated whether to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a preferential trade programme for African nations. Although the US House of Representatives approved the bill on January 12th, South Africa still risks exclusion.
Uncertainty over Iran’s involvement deepened after images circulated showing at least one Iranian vessel at sea, yet the extent of their participation is still uncertain. A defence ministry post on social media initially listed an Iranian corvette among the participants, but the message was later deleted.
In its statement, the ministry said Defence Minister Angie Motshekga had “clearly communicated” the president’s instruction, although it did not specify what that instruction was. Ramaphosa’s office has also not confirmed issuing such an order.
A board of inquiry will now examine whether the president’s directive “may have been misrepresented and/or ignored.”
The South African National Defence Force said the China-led BRICS exercises were intended to “ensure the safety of shipping lanes and maritime economic activities.”
The US embassy condemned Iran’s presence as “particularly unconscionable” given the government’s violent suppression of protests.
The drills brought together countries with deep diplomatic rifts with Washington at a time when Pretoria is attempting to repair strained relations with the United States. The Trump administration has previously accused South Africa of pursuing anti-American policies, boycotted a G20 summit hosted in the country, and imposed 30-percent trade tariffs.
Tensions were further inflamed in August when Ramaphosa’s office reprimanded the defence force for allowing South Africa’s top general to visit Iran, where he reportedly advocated for closer defence cooperation. The visit was “unhelpful,” a spokesman said, as South Africa attempted “a very delicate exercise of resetting diplomatic relations with the United States.”
Arab Weekly plus agencies, Maghrebi.org
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