PRETORIA: South Africa has rejected U.S. pressure to distance itself from Iran, signalling its intention to maintain an independent foreign policy despite growing geopolitical tensions.
Senior government official Zane Dangor said Pretoria sees no justification for severing ties with Tehran, even as Washington warns such relations could affect bilateral cooperation.
“We have no reason to cut ties with Iran,” Dangor said, while noting that South Africa is not uncritical of Tehran’s actions.
The comments come amid strained relations between South Africa and the United States, which have worsened following trade disputes and political disagreements.
Washington has also called on Pretoria to drop its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and to amend domestic policies linked to post-apartheid economic reforms.
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South Africa rejected those demands, saying its legal and domestic policies are not subject to external influence.
Dangor said the country would not be drawn into geopolitical alignments driven by major powers.
“We cannot be pulled into sphere-of-influence politics,” he said.
Analysts say the stance reflects a broader effort by emerging economies to maintain strategic autonomy while navigating competing global interests.
Tensions between the two countries have also been fuelled by new U.S. tariffs on South African imports and disagreements over migration policies.
Despite the challenges, Pretoria said it remains open to engagement with Washington on areas of mutual interest.