Pretoria – The visit to South Africa by Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Saeed Khatibzadeh, has raised the ire of the United States Ambassador to the country, Leo Brent Bozell III.
Dr. Khatibzadeh, responsible for the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Institute for Political and International Studies, on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, met with his South African counterpart, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka.
During the bilateral meeting, Deputy Minister Moraka reiterated the views expressed by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola when welcoming the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. and Iran.
She recalled that Minister Lamola also stated that “South Africa has consistently called for international disputes to be settled by negotiation – not war”.
Dr. Khatibzadeh briefed Deputy Minister Moraka on the latest developments pertaining to the implementation of the MoU, and Deputy Minister Moraka affirmed that South Africa stands ready to support all parties to ensure that the momentum towards peace is not lost.
The deputy ministers further welcomed the conducive climate created by the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
African countries were adversely affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and its reopening was paramount to ensuring the energy and food security on the continent.
Commenting on Dr. Khatibzadeh’s visit to South Africa on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, the U.S. ambassador posted his displeasure on X.
“The Government of South Africa rolls out the red carpet for Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, while Deputy President Mashatile is in Beijing deepening ties with China. Pretoria calls this ‘non-alignment.’ We call it what it is: a choice.
“The South African people deserve an honest conversation about who their government is choosing to stand with. #NotSoNonAligned.“
The post on X prompted a sharp rebuke from China.
Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng responded on X, saying: “Out of respect and diplomatic protocol, we don’t make comments on South Africa’s relations with other countries.
“Likewise, we oppose envoys of other countries publicly commenting on relations between China and South Africa.”
The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said it notes the statement attributed to the United States Ambassador.
“While the South African government does not engage in public disputes with resident envoys, these remarks necessitate a clear reaffirmation of our guiding principles,” said Chrispin Phiri, Spokesperson for the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
“As a sovereign nation, South Africa pursues an independent foreign policy firmly anchored in the principle of non-alignment.”
He said non-alignment must not be conflated with neutrality.
“We refuse to be drawn into geopolitical contestations or be pressured to take sides; instead, we prioritise inclusive dialogue, global peace, and our own national interests,” stated Phiri.
“Accordingly, we reserve the right to cultivate bilateral relations across the global spectrum.
“We note the inherent contradiction in being publicly scrutinised for engaging Iran and China, the very same states with which the United States itself continues to actively interact.
“We remain committed to utilising established diplomatic channels to engage the United States, and trust that such protocols will be mutually upheld moving forward.”
