Iran told International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor during her visit to Tehran at the weekend that it was pleased with South Africa’s ongoing support of the Palestinian cause.
Iran also expressed approval for South Africa’s role in preventing Israel from obtaining observer status at meetings of the African Union.
Pandor’s visit to Tehran was described as part of ongoing efforts to deepen the relationship between the two countries ahead of Iran becoming a BRICS member next year.
Her visit assumed global significance when Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, used their joint press conference to issue a warning relating to ongoing military activity in Gaza.
In what was seen as a barely veiled threat that Iran could become directly involved in the Hamas-Israel war, Amir-Abdollahian said: ‘I warn the US and its proxy (Israel)… that if they do not immediately stop the crime against humanity and genocide in Gaza, anything is possible at any moment and the region will go out of control.’
Meanwhile, Israel at the weekend repeated its warning to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy in the region, not to attack its borders.
While in Tehran, Pandor reportedly called for greater attention to be given to halting injustices against Palestinians.
Her meeting with Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, drew less attention, but included more appreciation of South Africa’s stance, according to Raisi’s office.
It said that Iran had criticised the United Nations Security Council for failing to stop the US from arming Israel, and that Raisi had praised South Africa’s expressions of disgust at Israel’s attack on Gaza.
The statement said South Africa’s opposition to Israel’s efforts to join the African Union as an observer was ‘responsible’.
Raisi’s office said Pandor had expressed enthusiasm for closer economic ties between Iran and South Africa.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has not yet provided its version of that meeting.
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