South Africa faces U.S. rebuke after naval drills with Iran

Naval exercises held off the coast of South Africa this month, led by China and joined by members of the BRICS group, have prompted a new round of hostility between South Africa and the United States after Iran participated despite being ordered downgraded to observer status on Jan.

9, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office. The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria strongly rebuked the South African government, accusing it of “choosing to stand with a regime that brutally represses its people and engages in terrorism.” The South African government has said China organized the drills and handled invitations and that South Africa merely hosted them in its waters; China did not respond to requests for comment.

Iran took part in the exercises, including live-fire drills that coincided with mass demonstrations in Iran this month, during which thousands of protesters were killed. Allies of Mr. Ramaphosa said the president had ordered Iran downgraded to observer status as the weeklong exercises approached, but Tehran participated anyway.

The incident was the second time in six months Mr. Ramaphosa appeared to be blindsided by his military on Iran. Last August, the South African military’s top general visited Tehran and spoke glowingly of the relationship; Mr. Ramaphosa did not know about or approve that visit, his office said.

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