South Africa has called for restraint and dialogue in Iran amid escalating unrest that has reportedly claimed thousands of lives, as domestic political pressure mounts on Pretoria to take a tougher stance and international tensions deepen with signs of potential United States military action.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the South African government said it was following developments in Iran “with concern”, citing reports of widespread unrest and loss of life following a violent crackdown on anti-government protests. The protests, which began last month over economic grievances, have spread nationwide and are described by analysts as the most significant challenge to Iran’s theocratic leadership since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
“South Africa firmly believes that the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are universal human rights that must be upheld without exception,” the statement said. The government urged all parties to exercise “maximum restraint” and called on Iranian authorities to ensure citizens are able to protest peacefully.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said sustainable peace and stability could only be achieved through solutions that centre “the agency of the Iranian people”, underscoring South Africa’s long-standing emphasis on dialogue over coercion in international conflicts.
However, the Government Nationa Unity (GNU) partner, Democratic Alliance (DA) has sharply criticised the government’s position, arguing it falls short in the face of what it describes as egregious human rights violations. On Wednesday, DA international relations spokesperson Ryan Smith said the party had formally written to International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, demanding that South Africa report Iran to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Smith cited reports that the death toll from the Iranian government’s suppression of protests was nearing 3,000, with some international rights groups estimating that as many as 20,000 people may have been killed. “The principles of freedom, democracy, and human rights enshrined in the South African Constitution compel Minister Lamola to act,” Smith said, adding that South Africa had a moral obligation to protect global citizens against autocratic regimes.
The DA also pointed to Iran’s recent accession to BRICS+ and what it called the African National Congress’s “public proximity” to Tehran as factors that made South Africa’s role particularly significant. Smith drew parallels between the Iranian protests and South Africa’s own history, including the Sharpeville massacre of 1960 and the Soweto uprising of 1976, when peaceful demonstrations were met with lethal force. “At those moments, the international community stood with the people of South Africa, not with the apartheid regime,” he said.
The dispute comes as tensions between Iran and the United States escalate. U.S. officials confirmed that hundreds of American troops have begun evacuating Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East, amid concerns that potential military action against Iran could trigger retaliation. The move has been described as temporary and precautionary, with personnel relocated to other facilities and hotels in the region.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that Washington would respond forcefully if Iranian security forces continued to use violence against protesters. U.S. media reports indicate that some American aircraft, including refuelling tankers, have been repositioned, signalling heightened military readiness.
Human rights groups say at least 2,500 people have been killed since the protests began, though the true figure remains difficult to verify due to restrictions on media and internet access inside Iran.
As global pressure mounts, South Africa now faces a delicate diplomatic balancing act: maintaining its commitment to dialogue and non-intervention while responding to calls, both at home and abroad, to take a more assertive stand against alleged human rights abuses. Whether Pretoria’s voice will translate into concrete action at international forums such as the UNHRC remains an open question.
