South Africa Expands Military Ties With Iran, Taunts Trump to ‘Bring On’ Sanctions

South Africa is not hiding its support for Iran. On August 12, Pretoria’s top military chief, Rudzani Maphwanya, met with senior officials of Iran’s military to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Although South Africa’s coalition government later walked back Maphwanya’s comments criticizing Israel and supporting Iran, it failed to condemn the visit or meaningfully distance South Africa from Iran diplomatically or militarily.

Maphwanya’s embrace of Iran, a country with which he said South Africa shares “common goals,” comes as Pretoria is appealing to the White House to lower the 30 percent tariffs imposed earlier this month. It also comes only days after African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula challenged President Donald Trump to “bring on” sanctions.

Defense Chief Meets With Iran’s Military Brass

As chief of the South African National Defense Force, Maphwanya appears to have met with at least three senior Iranian military officials — including Iran’s army chief, chief of staff, and commander of its military university. The talks emphasized future military cooperation, including South Africa’s potential hosting of Iran’s navy flotilla. The military leaders cited their countries’ deep historical ties and political alignment as a basis for increased military collaboration.

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi touted Iran’s “significant capabilities in various military, technical, and industrial fields” as a strategic asset to South Africa. Likewise, Commander of the Iranian Army Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami urged increased military collaboration and claimed that South Africa was receiving a “prioritized” position within Iran’s foreign policy calculus.

South Africa’s Ties to Iran Run Deep

This is only the latest example of deepening military cooperation between South Africa and Iran. Last year, South Africa attended joint naval exercises with Iran, Russia, and China. In July 2023, South African Navy Chief Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese welcomed “all Iranian military and non-military vessels” to South Africa’s waters and ports. Earlier that year, South Africa welcomed two Iranian naval vessels in Cape Town just months after the United States had sanctioned them.

Equally alarming is Gwede Mantashe, South Africa’s minister of mineral and petroleum resources, welcoming potential nuclear energy cooperation with Iran earlier this year. In February, President Trump issued an executive order ceasing all U.S. economic assistance to South Africa, citing its support for U.S. adversaries — including accusations of renewed commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements with Iran.

Reassessing the U.S.-South Africa Relationship

Congress is mounting pressure on the ANC and South Africa. The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed legislation in July urging the president to review the U.S.-South Africa bilateral relationship and to produce a list of potential South African officials who may qualify for sanctions due to corruption or human rights abuses. In addition to concerns over the ANC officials implicated in various corruption schemes — many of whom remain in power today — members of Congress are worried about South Africa’s growing support for Hamas.

South Africa is home to several Hamas fronts, including Al-Quds Foundation South Africa (AQFSA), which is a branch of the U.S.-sanctioned group Al-Quds International Foundation. AQFSA’s leader, Ebrahim Gabriels, previously served on the board of the Union of Good, which the United States sanctioned in 2008 for “act[ing] as a broker for Hamas by facilitating financial transfers between a web of charitable organizations … and Hamas-controlled organizations in the West Bank and Gaza.”

The U.S. Should Hold South Africa Accountable

President Trump should respond to South Africa’s growing alignment with America’s enemies by targeting corrupt South African politicians, including those currently in power, who are failing to serve the people of South Africa. The administration should likewise continue applying aggressive 30 percent tariffs on South Africa and threaten to progressively increase the rate until it meaningfully distances itself from Iran. Additionally, President Trump should support efforts by the Democratic Alliance, which historically opposed the ANC but now works with it in South Africa’s coalition government, to assess whether Gen. Maphwanya made any commitments on behalf of South Africa to Iran.

Max Meizlish is a senior research analyst for the Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Amelia Melo is an intern. For more analysis from Max and CEFP, please subscribe HERE. Follow Max on X @maxmeizlish. Follow FDD on X @FDD and @FDD_CEFP. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.