The United States of America has raised an issue with Iran’s participation in the ongoing naval exercises in South Africa.
Through a statement, the US Embassy in South Africa accused Iran of being a ‘destabilizing actor and state sponsor of terror’ and that its inclusion in joint exercises undermines maritime security and regional stability.
“The United States notes with concern and alarm reports that the Minister of Defense and SANDF defied a government order regarding Iran’s participation in the ongoing naval exercises. Iran is a destabilizing actor and state sponsor of terror, and its inclusion in joint exercises – in any capacity – undermines maritime security and regional stability,” read the statement.
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The US further accuses South Africa of being quiet as Iran shot and jailed citizens involved in peaceful demonstrations, something that South Africa has fought hard to gain for itself.
“It is particularly unconscionable that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were shooting, jailing, and torturing Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves. South Africa can’t lecture the world on ‘justice’ while cozying up to Iran.
And permitting Iranian military forces to operate in South African waters — or going to Tehran and expressing solidarity — isn’t ‘non-alignment’: it’s choosing to stand with a regime that brutally represses its people and engages in terrorism,” read the statement
This is the second time that the US has raised an issue with South Africa, with the first time being calls of targeting white farmers in the country to take away their land.
