South Africa’s international profile has long been defined by its post-apartheid transition, a commitment to human rights, and an aspiration to act as a trusted bridge between the global South and West. Yet, as revealed in a recent Middle East Africa Research Institute (MEARI) report, Pretoria’s increasingly close partnership with Iran is straining its most important foreign relationship: its strategic partnership with the United States.

Ties between Pretoria and Tehran are not new. They were seeded in the apartheid era, when the Shah’s Iran helped South Africa evade sanctions by supplying oil and providing access to technology and trade. Even after the Iranian revolution, clandestine commerce persisted, while the ANC’s anti-colonial solidarity with Tehran set the tone for post-1994 diplomatic engagement.

Since democracy, Iran has been a major supplier of crude oil, and the two countries’ economic co-operation has grown to include large-scale ventures like MTN’s 49% stake in Irancell, despite the baggage of sanctions busting and legal battles.

Sasol’s failed billion-dollar petrochemical investment in Iran and other commercial links show how financial motives have become entwined with foreign policy.

Strategic dimensions

Military and nuclear co-operation, often behind the scenes, adds a strategic dimension to the relationship. Memorandums of understanding have facilitated naval visits and knowledge sharing, while Iran has openly courted South Africa’s nuclear expertise. Diplomatically, Pretoria has shielded Iran at forums such as the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, routinely voting against or abstaining on sanctions, even as Iran’s nuclear activities become more provocative.

South Africa’s support for Hamas and its genocide case against Israel, according to the MEARI report, have reinforced perceptions in Washington that Pretoria is drifting away from Western priorities.

The consequences for US–South Africa ties are becoming tangible. Pretoria’s positions have already helped land South Africa on the Financial Action Task Force grey list and drawn new regulatory scrutiny from Washington. The MEARI report warns that persistent alignment with Iran risks eroding South Africa’s credibility and leverage in Washington, threatening economic, diplomatic, and security co-operation that is vital for the country’s own interests.

Reckoning

Ultimately, the MEARI report argues that what began as anti-colonial solidarity is now forcing an unavoidable reckoning. The deeper South Africa wades into partnership with Iran, the sharper the divide with Washington becomes. If Pretoria persists on its current path, it may soon face a stark choice: preserve its lucrative and strategic relationship with the United States or continue courting Tehran at the risk of losing Western trust and support.

For a nation whose post-apartheid renewal depended on strong transatlantic ties, the moment of decision may arrive sooner than its leaders expect: and choosing one side will almost certainly come at the expense of the other.