SA Launches Probe Amid Reports President's Order on Iran's Role in BRICS Drills Was Ignored: Gov't
SA Launches Probe Amid Reports President's Order on Iran's Role in BRICS Drills Was Ignored: Gov't
An investigative commission has been established following media reports that the South African military disregarded an instruction from President Cyril Ramaphosa concerning Iran’s participation in the "Will for Peace 2026" drills, the government said.
This comes after a local newspaper alleged the military ignored Ramaphosa's directive to downgrade Iran’s participation in the naval drills, held off South Africa’s coast from January 9–16, to an observer. The report attributed this to alleged US pressure on Pretoria.
The investigation will determine if the president's instructions were "misinterpreted and/or disregarded," with a report due to the Defense Minister within seven days of the drills' conclusion, the statement noted.
Earlier, South African media reported, citing sources, that Iran agreed to downgrade its participation in the BRICS+ naval exercises to observer status following diplomatic talks with South Africa.
The naval exercises, managed by China under the BRICS+ framework, included vessels from China, Russia, the UAE, and Iran, operating from the Simon's Town naval base near the Cape of Good Hope.
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