According to multiple reports, South Africa quietly asked Iran to scale back or withdraw from the ‘Will for Peace’ naval drills off the coast of Cape Town last week, amid rising pressure from Washington and fears of further economic retaliation by the Trump administration.
The BRICS exercise — hosted by China and involving Russia, South Africa, and United Arab Emirates — is the bloc’s first multilateral military drill, a move that has already raised eyebrows in Western capitals.
Iran, which joined BRICS in 2024, sent three warships, including one belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — a force under Western sanctions and accused of leading a deadly crackdown on protesters back home.
With Trump repeatedly warning countries against doing business with Iran and threatening punitive tariffs, Pretoria reportedly grew uneasy.
Citing The Business Insider, reports say South Africa initially persuaded Tehran to downgrade its role to that of an observer, with Iranian vessels expected to pull back.
But the plan appeared to unravel.
On Tuesday, an Iranian warship — identified as the Naghdi — was seen sailing out alongside vessels from other BRICS+ nations, according to The Globe and Mail, signalling what many viewed as Iran defying Western pressure.
Adding to the intrigue, South Africa’s military briefly confirmed Iran’s participation on social media — only to delete the post later. Media briefings were postponed, details remained scarce, and even China’s official announcement of the drill conspicuously avoided mentioning Iran.
The episode highlights Pretoria’s delicate balancing act: staying loyal to BRICS commitments while avoiding Trump’s wrath.
South Africa is already facing a 30% US tariff, with Trump accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa of failing to protect the country’s white minority. At the same time, Pretoria is negotiating trade relief with Washington.
US Republican Senator Jim Risch accused South Africa of “open hostility” toward the US for hosting the drills, saying it hides behind non-alignment while training with America’s adversaries.
South Africa’s Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa pushed back, insisting the exercise was not aimed at any country and was essential amid rising maritime tensions.
Just days after the controversy, Washington approved legislation to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for three more years, granting duty-free access to African exports — a move seen by analysts as a possible goodwill signal to Pretoria.
The Iran episode exposes the limits of BRICS solidarity when confronted with US economic power. Since returning to office, Trump has branded the bloc “anti-American” and threatened 100% tariffs if it challenges the US dollar’s dominance in global trade.
For now, South Africa finds itself caught between two giants — trying to keep BRICS afloat without capsizing its relationship with Washington.
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