Middle-East crisis places South Africa between rock and hard place
President Ramaphosa is grappling with a diplomatic solution to the Iran-Israel war.
Image: Jairus Mmutle/ GCIS
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa's call for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the tensions in the Middle-East reflects the complexities of striking a balancing act as South Africa seeks to maintain its relationships with both Iran and the US, says one political analyst.
As a fellow BRICS member, South Africa has warm diplomatic relations with Iran. However, the country has also been a staunch critic of Israel's conduct in Gaza, culminating in a landmark International Court of Justice case accusing Israel of genocide.
Pretoria has publicly cut diplomatic ties with Israel, a key US ally and formally downgraded its embassy.
The international community has reacted to the conflict with varying degrees of condemnation and support.
In a statement on Sunday, a day after the US claimed to have obliterated key nuclear sites in Iran, Ramaphosa expressed "anxiety" over the US involvement in the conflict, urging President Donald Trump to use his influence in ensuring a path to dialogue prevails.
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"It was South Africa's sincerest hope that President Donald Trump would use his influence and that of the US government to prevail on the parties to pursue a dialogue path in resolving their issues of dispute," the statement read.
'President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African government have noted with a great deal of anxiety the entry by the United States of America into the Israel-Iran war.
'South Africa calls on the United States, Israel, and Iran to give the United Nations the opportunity and space to lead on the peaceful resolution of the matters of dispute, including the inspection and verification of Iran's status of uranium enrichment, as well as its broader nuclear capacity,' the statement reads.
Political analyst Dr John Molepo said the government has sought to portray itself as a champion of the Global South, a defender of international law, and a broker of multipolar diplomacy.
'Ramaphosa's measured response reflects the complexities of this balancing act, as the country seeks to maintain its relationships with both Iran and the US while upholding its commitment to peaceful resolution and international law,' Molepo said.
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