As tensions continue in the Middle East, the economic fallout is being felt far beyond the region. In South Africa, officials are warning that the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran could come at a steep cost. Our South Africa correspondent speaks to political analyst Sanusha Naidu about the economic effect the war has on South Africa and the wider continent.
#Iranwar #SouthAfrica #EyeonAfrica
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But still rich people get very huge profits because of this conflicts..
✅ War is not a solution, war is a problem in itself. Many lives have already been lost. The war should stop now, Europe should propose a complete end to the war and lift all sanctions on Iran to end it permanently.
South Africa will collapse by 2040.
You aren't very well informed here – we don't refine a lot of oil to "gas" (It seems like we have 1 operating refinery). The operators here purchase mostly finished product from the middle-eastern refineries so prices have spiked and will inflate costs across the board. Not to mention jet fuel. What's with this mid-level reporting?
The anc has destroyed SA to the point that its beyond repair anyway.
*The relationship between the African National Congress (ANC) and Iran is longstanding, ideological, and often described by the ANC as rooted in shared "anti-imperialist" and anti-apartheid solidarity.* However, historical records show it is more nuanced and evolved significantly over time. Iran under the Shah (pre-1979) actually had close economic and military ties with apartheid South Africa, while post-revolution Iran (1979 onward) publicly opposed apartheid and later built ties with the ANC. Post-1994, the bond has been sustained through diplomacy, mutual support at the UN, trade, and shared worldviews, though it has drawn criticism for straining South Africa’s relations with the West.
### Pre-1979: Shah’s Iran and Apartheid South Africa
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran (under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi) maintained strong pragmatic ties with apartheid South Africa:
– Iran became South Africa’s largest oil supplier by the late 1970s (providing over 90% of its crude by 1978), as Arab states had curtailed sales after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
– Economic, military, and even nuclear cooperation existed, driven by shared anti-communist concerns and mutual interests.
– The ANC and other liberation movements received no meaningful support from the Shah’s regime; relations were effectively hostile to anti-apartheid efforts.
### 1979–1994: The Islamic Revolution and Anti-Apartheid Shift
The 1979 revolution changed Iran’s stance dramatically:
– Iran immediately severed diplomatic relations with apartheid South Africa and imposed a trade boycott in protest against apartheid policies.
– It supported international sanctions against the regime and backed South African liberation movements in principle.
– ANC President Oliver Tambo publicly welcomed the revolution in a 1979 message from exile, hailing it as a victory for the oppressed.
– Iran provided some material, public, and financial support to the ANC in exile, though critics (including South African analysts) argue this was limited compared to support from the Soviet bloc, Cuba, or others. Direct “fraternal” ties during the height of the armed struggle were not as deep or consistent as the ANC sometimes portrays today. Clandestine oil-for-weapons deals between Iran and the apartheid government reportedly continued in some periods despite the public boycott.
The ANC’s warm rhetoric often dates the alliance to this era, framing Iran’s post-revolution anti-apartheid position as pivotal.
### Post-1994: Diplomatic, Economic, and Ideological Partnership
After apartheid ended, relations were quickly normalized and expanded:
– Sanctions were lifted in January 1994; full diplomatic relations resumed on 10 May 1994 (just before Nelson Mandela’s inauguration).
– A Joint Commission of Cooperation was established in 1995 and has met regularly.
– In July 1992 (pre-presidency), Mandela visited Tehran seeking financial aid amid the ANC’s funding shortfalls after the Soviet Union’s collapse. The visit succeeded in securing donations and laid a practical foundation for future ties.
– Under ANC governments, South Africa has repeatedly defended Iran internationally—voting against or abstaining on UN resolutions criticizing Tehran’s human rights record, nuclear program, or regional activities.
– Cooperation covers trade, energy, agriculture, science/technology, and tourism. Iran was one of the first countries to resume trade with democratic South Africa.
– Ideologically, the ANC views Iran as a fellow “anti-imperialist” state that stood by it “in the most difficult times.” ANC leaders frequently call Iran a “fraternal” ally and emphasize loyalty (“we can’t hide our friends”).
Iran has also supported South Africa’s multilateral initiatives (e.g., facilitating Iran’s BRICS entry). In turn, South Africa has backed Iran on issues like the nuclear deal and opposed Western sanctions.
### Recent Developments (2020s–2026) and Controversies
The relationship remains active but contentious:
– ANC officials continue high-level engagements with Iranian diplomats, reaffirming the bond even amid global tensions.
– South Africa and Iran have collaborated on issues like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel (post-2023), with unproven allegations that Iran offered financial support to the cash-strapped ANC in exchange for Pretoria’s stance.
– Critics argue the ANC’s “nostalgia” for struggle-era allies (Iran, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela) harms South Africa’s economy and relations with the US and West, especially under renewed US pressure in 2025–2026. Some call the apartheid-era friendship narrative a “myth,” noting the real foundation was post-1992 fundraising rather than deep 1980s alliance.
– Supporters within the ANC frame it as principled consistency and South-South solidarity.
In summary, the ANC-Iran relationship is real and enduring in the eyes of the ruling party—symbolizing gratitude for post-1979 anti-apartheid gestures and ideological alignment—but historians and opposition voices highlight that pre-revolution ties were with the apartheid state itself, and much of the modern closeness stems from pragmatic post-liberation diplomacy and mutual anti-Western positioning. It remains a key pillar of South Africa’s foreign policy under ANC influence, though one that carries diplomatic and economic costs.
The Gulf will not be the same again.
price per liter in SA is still the same as prewar, what are you talking about? been unchanged for almost 90 days
We import refined oil . Although Sasol refine oil ,the capacity is not enough. We need to increase our own oil refinery plants
If I may quote the African America poet Mr Morale, popularly know as Kendrick Lamar… "We gon be alright" 😅