https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/516753/Iran-South-Africa-pledge-to-deepen-military-and-anti-terrorism
August 12, 2025 - 19:23
>TEHRAN – Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, has emphasized Iran’s readiness to expand military and defense cooperation with South Africa, noting, “Today, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps is recognized as the world’s largest anti-terrorist force and possesses valuable experiences that it can share with South Africa.”
>Major General Mousavi made these remarks during a meeting with a visiting South African delegation led by the Chief of the South African National Defense Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, in Tehran on Tuesday. He issued a stern warning to the Zionist regime and the United States that the Iranian armed forces are fully prepared to deliver a decisive response to any renewed aggression.
>Iran’s Army Commander Major General Amir Hatami and South African Defense Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya underscored their countries’ common goal of confronting global arrogance and colonial aggression during their talks in Tehran on Tuesday.
>Highlighting Pretoria’s fight against Zionist aggression, General Hatami praised South Africa’s move to challenge Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its ongoing genocide in Gaza, calling the initiative “historic.” He warned that Gaza’s besieged population urgently needs concrete support, not just symbolic gestures. “Unfortunately, due to the influence of the United States and some Western powers, support remains mostly verbal, allowing the crimes of this regime to continue unabated,” he lamented.
>Recalling the unprovoked 12-day US-backed Israeli war on Iran in June, Major General Hatami condemned Tel Aviv and Washington for violating international law. However, he noted that their campaign ended in humiliation, with Iranian missile strikes forcing Israel to seek a ceasefire and Washington to halt attacks.
>General Maphwanya conveyed greetings from South Africa’s president and defense minister and affirmed, “The Republic of South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran have common goals. We always stand alongside the oppressed and defenseless people of the world.”
>Iran’s Defense Minister Major General Aziz Nasirzadeh met with General Rudzani Maphwanya and highlighted the longstanding friendly relations between Iran and South Africa rooted in shared values such as resistance against oppression, apartheid, discrimination, colonialism, and the pursuit of independence, human dignity, and justice.
>General Maphwanya expressed disgust at Israeli actions and genocide in Gaza and highlighted shared ideals between South Africa’s late leader Nelson Mandela and Iran’s Imam Khomeini (RA) in opposing injustice and discrimination.
