Senior defense officials highlighted shared values and strategic priorities during a meeting in Tehran

South Africa and Iran have pledged to strengthen bilateral military cooperation following a high-level meeting between defense officials in Tehran.

The commander of the South African National Defense Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, met with Iranian Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi for talks on Tuesday. Mousavi emphasized the capabilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, describing it as the "world's largest anti-terrorism force." He added that Iran is ready to share its extensive experience with South Africa, according to local media reports.

"The Armed Forces of Iran, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Army and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, possess significant capabilities in various military, technical, and industrial fields.

"These capabilities can be utilized in cooperation with the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense of South Africa to serve their mutual national interests and enhance regional and international security," Mousavi stated.

Iranian Major General Amir Hatami also took part in the discussions, highlighting the ideological alignment between the two nations. "The Islamic Republic and South Africa have always supported each other and oppressed nations," he stated. 

Hatami pointed to South Africa's decision to file a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza as an example of such solidarity. The move, he said, would "go down in history."

General Maphwanya also acknowledged Iran's longstanding support for South Africa's struggle against apartheid, which he said created "a historical bond between the two nations."

South Africa and Iran have long-standing ties, with Tehran supported South African liberation movements. Iran cut official relations and imposed a trade boycott in 1979 over apartheid, but lifted all sanctions in January 1994, restoring diplomatic relations later that year after the first free, all-race general elections were held in South Africa.

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The two countries currently maintain embassies in Tehran and Pretoria. In recent years, they have deepened cooperation across energy and defense sectors. South Africa supported Iran's accession to the BRICS group in January 2024.