Pretoria cannot be drawn into the sphere-of-influence politics that the great powers want to pull it into, Foreign Ministry Director-General Zane Dangor has said

South Africa has no reason to cut ties with Iran and will not allow itself to be drawn into the rivalry of major powers, including the US, Foreign Ministry Director-General Zane Dangor has said, according to Reuters.

Dangor's remarks follow criticism from the new US ambassador in Pretoria, Leo Brent Bozell III, who said South Africa's ties with Iran are an impediment to better relations with Washington.

In response, Dangor told Reuters in an interview published on Monday that while Pretoria is "not absolutely uncritical of Iran," there is "not any reason to cut ties with Iran."

"We cannot be pulled into the sort of sphere of influence politics that great powers want to pull us into, and that in this instance includes the US," he said. "You [the US] have a particular relationship with Iran... that many in the developing world [do not] have."

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Bozell, a conservative commentator appointed by US President Donald Trump, was summoned by Pretoria last week over what Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola called "undiplomatic remarks." Lamola said South Africa welcomes stronger ties with Washington, but "diplomatic etiquette and international protocols" have to be respected. South African officials later said Bozell apologized and expressed regret.

Relations between Pretoria and Washington have deteriorated since Trump returned to office in January 2025. South Africa's ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled last year after he criticized Trump administration policies. Washington has since frozen financial aid and imposed a 30% tariff on South African imports, amid a broader dispute over South Africa's foreign policy and domestic laws, including its land expropriation legislation and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment program.

South Africa has also faced US pressure to withdraw its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the war in Gaza. Officials have rejected the demand. Dangor told Reuters that the issue "is not even on the table" in negotiations with the US.

"In my last engagement with the State Department people, we indicated that if you disagree with us on this, it's a court process," he said, adding that South Africa wants to improve ties with the US, but that the countries should engage in areas they agree on.