South Africa, Iran Agree to Expand Military Ties

(MENAFN) South Africa and Iran have agreed to deepen their military partnership after senior defense representatives from both countries held discussions in Tehran.

The head of the South African National Defense Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, engaged in talks on Tuesday with Iranian military chief Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi.

During the meeting, Mousavi highlighted the strength of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, referring to it as the “world’s largest anti-terrorism force.”

He expressed Iran’s willingness to share its broad military expertise with South Africa, as reported by local media outlets.

Mousavi stated that “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.”

He emphasized that these assets could be harnessed through collaboration with South Africa’s defense institutions to promote their shared national priorities and bolster both regional and global stability.

Also participating in the meeting was Iranian Major General Amir Hatami, who underscored the ideological common ground between the two nations.

“The Islamic Republic and South Africa have always supported each other and oppressed nations,” he remarked.

Hatami referenced South Africa’s recent legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the Gaza conflict as an illustration of this unity.

He noted that the initiative would “go down in history,” affirming the depth of solidarity between the two countries.

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