South Africa has launched a formal inquiry into Iran’s participation in recent BRICS+ naval exercises off Cape Town, amid concerns over whether government instructions were fully followed. The Defence Ministry said the probe, ordered by Minister Angie Motshekga, will assess if President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directives regarding Iran’s involvement were misrepresented or ignored, according to Reuters.
The inquiry will examine the scope of Iranian involvement and whether it complied with guidance issued from the presidency, which local media reported had sought to limit Tehran’s role to avoid straining relations with key international partners, particularly the United States, as highlighted by TimesLive. South African officials emphasized that Ramaphosa’s instructions had been clearly communicated prior to the exercises, which also included China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The drills, held under the BRICS+ framework and named Exercise Will for Peace 2026, drew sharp criticism from the U.S. Embassy in South Africa. The embassy described Iran’s presence as “unconscionable” given Tehran’s human rights record and suggested it could undermine maritime security and regional stability, as reported by Middle East Monitor.
The investigation reflects Pretoria’s challenge in balancing strong ties with BRICS partners while managing diplomatic relations with Western powers. The inquiry’s findings are expected soon and will provide clarity on South Africa’s military and diplomatic stance in multilateral defence engagements, CNBC Africa notes.
