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SA’s contrasting stance towards Iran and Israel
While diplomatic ties with Israel wither, South Africa’s friendship with Iran is blossoming. Last Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa told parliament that the government was “working feverishly” to implement the ANC’s decision to downgrade the embassy in Tel Aviv to a liaison office.
STEVEN GRUZD AND TALI FEINBERG
According to EWN, he said: “The decision to downgrade the embassy in Israel is informed precisely by the violation of the rights of Palestinians and we are therefore putting pressure on Israel. But at the same time, we are saying we are willing to play a role and ensure there is peace [in the Middle East].”
Many would say it takes two (not) to tango.
The next day, South Africa was warmly welcoming diplomats from Iran, the only country that has openly declared its intention to vaporise another sovereign state: Israel.
This year, Iran celebrates 40 years since the 1979 Islamic Revolution swept Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power in Tehran. Since then, Iran has threatened, repeatedly, to obliterate Israel from the map, supported Holocaust deniers, and issued despicable invective against Jews and the Jewish state.
Just last month, a Revolutionary Guard leader vowed to “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa” if the United States attacked Iran. The Islamic republic arms and pays Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria – proxy forces that fire missiles and dig terror tunnels into Israel.
Iran’s human rights record stands in stark opposition to South Africa’s Constitution. For example, on Tuesday, female human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh – representing women who removed their headscarves – was charged with spying and insulting Iran’s supreme leader. She was sentenced to 148 lashes and 38 years in prison.
But last Thursday, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, held talks with South Africa’s speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, in Cape Town. Cooperation in the political and economic arenas was among other issues discussed during the meeting. Mbete, for her part, underlined the significance of bilateral relations and highlighted South Africa’s readiness to promote economic cooperation with Iran.
A day later, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Reginah Mhaule received a delegation led by Araghchi at parliament. It included senior officials from both governments.
In her remarks, Mhaule said: “I am most honoured to meet you today and wish to convey our appreciation for your visit to the Republic of South Africa… Difficult times… bring friends together and I am delighted to have witnessed the increased interactions between the governments of Iran and South Africa during the last year.”
Indeed, this is not an isolated encounter. The Iran-South Africa Deputy Ministerial Working Group has convened eight times, and the two foreign ministers met in June 2018. The South African government undertook a high-profile trip to Tehran in August 2018 “to convey the South African government’s political support to the Islamic Republic of Iran”. Ramaphosa visited Iran in November 2015, and former president Jacob Zuma took a trip to Tehran in April 2016.
Mhaule said South Africa found it “regrettable” that the US had decided to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran nuclear deal.
“We believe that [the JCPOA] provides the necessary framework and confidence-building measures under which your country is able to pursue its nuclear activities for peaceful purposes,” said Mhaule.
She added that she was encouraged by the other JCPOA signatories and Iran keeping the deal alive. “We believe that your country has adhered to its prescripts as reinforced by various IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] reports.
“It is my firm belief that today’s meeting will add further momentum to our bilateral relations, such that South Africa and Iran will weather the storm together.”
In his response, Araghchi said Iran appreciated South Africa’s support and that the withdrawal of the US from the nuclear deal violated UN Security Council resolutions.
“The US is trying to punish other countries who don’t do the same,” he said. “We remain a major player in the Middle East. We know how to find our way, despite sanctions. We continue to work towards peace, stability and security. We look forward to friendship between our two countries.”
Although members of the media could take photos and hear the opening remarks, they were not allowed to ask questions.
Time will tell if elections in South Africa and Israel can shift the needle.