South Africa Solidifies Anti-Western Alliance as Pretoria Rejects U.S. Demands to Sever Ties with Iranian Regime

Pretoria defies Washington by reaffirming its alliance with Tehran and deepening nuclear ties with Russia amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 4:24 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Pretoria Defies Washington Amid Regional Conflict

The South African government has issued a formal declaration of its intent to maintain diplomatic and economic ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite the raging conflict between Washington and Tehran. Zane Dangor, director-general of South Africa’s foreign ministry, stated on March 24 that the country has no reason to distance itself from the clerical regime. This defiance follows a clear ultimatum from U.S. Ambassador Brent Bozell, who characterized Pretoria’s association with Iran as an insurmountable impediment to positive relations with the United States. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) continues to frame its relationship with Tehran as a cornerstone of an anti-imperialist world order.

Official Mourning for the Supreme Leader and Diplomatic Friction

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The depth of the Tehran-Pretoria axis was further evidenced by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s official response to the elimination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ramaphosa dispatched a formal letter of condolence to the regime, while an ANC delegation visited the Iranian Embassy to pay tribute. This diplomatic warmth stands in sharp contrast to South Africa's treatment of Western allies; in January 2026, Pretoria expelled Israel’s top diplomat and moved to shutter the Israeli Embassy. Critics, including the opposition Democratic Alliance, have noted the hypocrisy of the ANC’s silence regarding Tehran’s domestic repression while frequently invoking the history of the anti-apartheid struggle to criticize other nations.