Sisulu Foundation for Social Justice expresses support, solidarity for people of Iran

A diplomatic briefing led by His Excellency Iranian Ambassador Mansour Shakib Mehr, brought together religious leaders, community activists, and members of the media for a first-hand update on the rapidly unfolding situation in Iran and the broader region. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Africa has expressed its gratitude to South Africans for their support and solidarity with the people of Iran, following recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.This response follows a letter from the Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation for Social Justice addressed to the Iranian Embassy in which the Foundation voiced its solidarity with Iran and condemned attacks by Israel and the United States that impacted civilian, industrial, and nuclear infrastructure.The Foundation framed these strikes as violations of international law, including the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), highlighting Iran’s continued commitment as a signatory to the treaty. Signed by Lindiwe Sisulu in her capacity as patron, the Foundation’s letter describes the ongoing situation in Iran as a “betrayal of diplomacy” and has called for a high-level dialogue involving ambassadors, African multilateral bodies such as the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC), lawmakers, and scholars specialising in international law and geopolitics.The proposed forum aims to examine the matter of their issued letter and the “glaring violation of international law” currently in witness.

In its official response, the Iranian Embassy has issued the following statement: “We, at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Africa, express our sincere gratitude to all political parties, groups, unions, communities, and individuals who have shown their solidarity and support for the people of Iran by issuing statements, visiting the embassy, or sending messages of support against the war crimes and unlawful aggression by the United States and Israel regimes. We hope that the support will continue until the end of this illegal aggression. “The people of South Africa have always shown that they stand on the right side of history. South Africa is the homeland of Mandela, a symbol of the struggle for freedom.”