Iran ready to assist South Africans in evacuating from the escalating Middle East conflict

Iran’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, briefed the media on Wednesday night regarding the latest on the war in the Middle East. Iran has indicated it is willing to assist with the evacuation of South African citizens stranded in parts of the Middle East as fighting intensifies in the region. Iran’s Ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, said on Wednesday night that Iranian authorities stand ready to support evacuation efforts if required.

Speaking during a media briefing on the escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, the ambassador said South Africa should prioritise the safety of its citizens. “We hope South Africa can evacuate its citizens from the region,” he said. He added that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) was already coordinating evacuation efforts, but said Iran could assist if needed.

His remarks came hours after DIRCO confirmed that a growing number of South Africans in the Middle East had registered on the government’s Travel Smart system. According toDIRCO, more than 6,400 South African citizens in the region had registered their presence as of March 4, 2026. The department urged citizens currently in the region for non-essential travel to make use of official evacuation channels where possible.

[paywall]

“This proactive measure is essential to prepare for an exit from the danger zone as soon as it is safe to secure passage,” the department said in a statement. DIRCO also warned that the security situation remains volatile and encouraged South Africans to take advantage of the limited commercial flights that have resumed in parts of the region. “We urge all citizens to note that several airlines have resumed limited commercial flights out of the region.

Citizens are strongly encouraged to take immediate advantage of this opportunity to leave, as heavy attacks are regrettably expected to continue in the coming days. Your safety is our paramount concern,” the department said.

[/paywall]