Iranian vessels were supposed to take part in the nava; exercises in SA. Picture: RODGER BOSCH / AFP The US Embassy in South Africa has slammed Pretoria for supporting Iran while it cracks down on anti-government protesters by allowing Iranian warships into South African waters of False Bay in Cape Town for naval exercises, which also include Russia and China. Iran vowed on Thursday to defend itself against any foreign threat, after US President Donald Trump said he would “watch it and see” regarding military action over the crackdown on protesters.
The presence of three Iranian warships off False Bayhas drawn international attention to South Africa, raising concerns about political costs for its allies. In a post on X, the US Embassy in South Africa expressed concern about South Africa’s decision to allow Iran to participate in naval exercises. “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.” NOW READ:BMA denies ‘misleading claims’ that it refused Russian warship access to SA shores The embassy said it is particularly “unconscionable” that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were “shooting, jailing and torturing” Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity, for which South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves. “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. Earlier this week, defence analyst Helmoed-Römer Heitman told The Citizen that including Iran risked damaging relations with key trading partners in Europe and the United States (US).
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