US rebukes SA for cosying up to Iran and China

Recent high-level diplomatic engagements with Iran and China have reignited debate over South Africa’s foreign policy, prompting sharp criticism from the United States and raising fresh questions about the government’s claim of non-alignment. 

The controversy erupted after US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III publicly criticised the African National Congress (ANC)-led government’s decision to host Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister on 23 June and the visit of Deputy President Paul Mashatile to Beijing at the same time. 

In a post on X, Bozell wrote, “The government of South Africa rolls out the red carpet for Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, while Deputy President Mashatile is in Beijing deepening ties with China. Pretoria calls this ‘non-alignment’. We call it what it is: a choice. The South African people deserve an honest conversation about who their government is choosing to stand with.” 

The ambassador’s remarks represent one of Washington’s strongest public rebukes of Pretoria in recent months and come amid continuing tensions over South Africa’s foreign policy, including its deepening ties with China and Iran and its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. 

Mashatile’s visit to China focused on expanding trade, investment, and strategic cooperation, while reinforcing ties within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia) bloc. At the same time, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka hosted Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Dr Saeed Khatibzadeh for bilateral talks in Pretoria. 

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), Moraka reiterated South Africa’s long-standing position that international disputes should be resolved through negotiation rather than war. Khatibzadeh briefed her on recent developments following the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, and South Africa expressed its willingness to support efforts to preserve the momentum towards peace. 

The two deputy ministers also welcomed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, noting its importance for global energy and food security, particularly for African countries affected by disruptions to one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. 

Dirco responded swiftly to Bozell’s criticism. In a strongly worded statement, the department reaffirmed that “as a sovereign nation, South Africa pursues an independent foreign policy firmly anchored in the principle of non-alignment. 

“We refuse to be drawn into geopolitical contestations or be pressured to take sides; instead, we prioritise inclusive dialogue, global peace, and our own national interests.” 

Dirco further argued that criticism from Washington was inconsistent. “We note the inherent contradiction in being publicly scrutinised for engaging Iran and China, the very same states with which the United States itself continues to actively interact”. 

However, critics argue the issue is not diplomatic engagement itself, but the South African government’s repeated political alignment with authoritarian governments that are openly hostile to the West. 

Benji Shulman, director of the Middle East Africa Research Institute, said, “These kinds of actions represent a continuation of South African foreign policy over the past 30 years since the ANC came to power. They maintain ties with the West on trade and aid, but politically and ideologically they elevate anti-Western governments and continually seek opportunities to strengthen those relationships.” 

Shulman said Iran has enjoyed close access to senior ANC and government leaders throughout the Middle East conflict. 

“Throughout the war, the Iranian ambassador had full access to ANC and government figures and has been very public about the support received from a variety of quarters,” he said. 

“Now that the war has ended and there appears to have been an American push towards a negotiated agreement, Iran has greater political space to expand its international relationships. We are seeing that reflected in South Africa, while China also continues deepening its engagement with both the ANC and government.” 

Sara Gon, a fellow at the Institute of Race Relations, said the symbolism of Pretoria’s recent diplomatic engagements should concern South Africans. 

“We should be concerned because South Africa hasn’t rushed to repair or strengthen its relationship with the United States while clearly and actively pursuing closer links with China and Iran,” she said. “The US has made it clear that countries can maintain relationships with states that are not American allies without jeopardising their relationship with Washington.” 

Gon said South Africa’s particularly close relationship with Iran appeared increasingly difficult to reconcile with its stated commitment to human rights. 

“Iran is regarded as the world’s greatest exporter of terror through its proxy organisations. It commits serious human rights abuses against its own people and is governed without meaningful democratic accountability. By rights, this should be exactly the sort of country that South Africa’s foreign policy should treat with caution.” 

Pretoria’s foreign policy increasingly appeared inconsistent with its own stated values. 

“South Africa’s relationships with countries that have questionable human rights records have become the hallmark of its foreign policy.” 

Gon said although Iran once supplied more than 40% of South Africa’s oil imports, those imports ended about a decade ago because of sanctions linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme. “Today, trade between the two countries is relatively modest, with South African exports to Iran valued at about $6.1 million in 2025 and imports from Iran totalling approximately $3.7 million in 2024. 

“Political ties, however, have continued to deepen. In 2023, South Africa and Iran signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing and equipping South African oil refineries,” she said. 

Whether viewed as principled non-alignment or a deliberate geopolitical choice, South Africa’s latest engagements with China and Iran have once again placed Pretoria’s foreign policy under scrutiny, with the strain in its relationship with Washington showing few signs of easing.