Pretoria Stands Firm: South Africa Rejects U.S. Pressure to Sever Iran Ties
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has officially rebuffed demands from the United States to isolate Iran, marking a new low in bilateral relations. On March 16, 2026, Director-General Zane Dangor confirmed that South Africa has "no reason" to cut diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic, emphasizing the nation's commitment to an independent, non-aligned foreign policy despite escalating threats from the Trump administration. South Africa has Rejected United States Orders. March 16 2026 South Africa has no reason to cut ties with Iran, its director general of foreign affairs said, after the new U.S. ambassador was quoted as saying the country's association with the Islamic Republic was an impediment to good relations with Washington. https://t.co/gE7PEuR3OQ — Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) March 16, 2026 Why is the new U.S. Ambassador sparking a diplomatic firestorm? The friction reached a boiling point after the newly a...