CAPE TOWN – South Africa has reportedly asked Iran to withdraw from major naval exercises with Russia and China, bowing to mounting pressure from the United States, also as deadly protests continue to rock the Islamic Republic.
A well-placed government source confirmed to SABC News that Iran was excluded from the “Will for Peace 2026” naval drills, which commenced over the weekend off the coast of Simon’s Town. The last-minute diplomatic maneuver comes as South Africa attempts to preserve crucial economic ties with Washington while maintaining its non-aligned foreign policy stance.
The decision also follows a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran that has killed at least 538 people, though some reports suggest the death toll may exceed 2 000. The ongoing uprising, which began late last year, has drawn international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of countries maintaining ties with Tehran.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping 25% tariffs on any nation conducting business with Iran, directly targeting the country’s international partners amid the protest crackdown. The punitive measure significantly raises the stakes for countries like South Africa that maintain economic relationships with the Islamic Republic.
The timing of Iran’s exclusion appears strategically calculated. The US House of Representatives recently approved a three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access to American markets for many sub-Saharan African nations. However, South Africa’s continued eligibility remains uncertain.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch has explicitly questioned South Africa’s qualification for AGOA benefits, citing the country’s military cooperation with US adversaries including Iran and Russia. The potential loss of preferential trade access could devastate South Africa’s economy, which relies heavily on textile and agricultural exports to the United States.
Despite the Iranian withdrawal as well as much criticism to this controversial military operation, South African officials have defended the naval exercises as necessary for regional maritime security. Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, South Africa’s joint taskforce commander, characterised the drills as “essential” rather than optional.
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“In an increasingly complex maritime environment, cooperation such as this is not an option; it is essential,” Thamaha said on Saturday. He said that the exercises’ role in “ensuring the safety of shipping lanes and maritime economic activities.”
The week-long drills, which began Friday 9 January, still include naval forces from China and Russia alongside South African vessels. Warships from all participating nations have gathered at Simon’s Town naval base for what officials describe as routine maritime cooperation exercises.
South Africa has conducted similar naval exercises with Russia and China since 2019, reflecting its commitment to non-alignment and BRICS cooperation. However, the inclusion of Iran proved particularly controversial given current international tensions surrounding the Islamic Republic.
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