South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has received a finalized report investigating why Iranian warships participated in naval drills off the coast of South Africa earlier this year, according to a statement from his office on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. The president’s office stated that the findings will remain confidential while he reviews the document.
The investigation was launched in February 2026 after Iranian vessels took part in a naval exercise alongside Chinese and Russian ships near Cape Town in January. President Ramaphosa stated that he issued an instruction for the Iranian ships—which had already traveled to South Africa—not to participate, and he ordered the inquiry to determine why that directive was not followed.
The probe, led by a retired judge, focused on whether high-ranking members of the South African armed forces or officials within the Ministry of Defence ignored the president's orders. The president directed the investigators to report directly to him rather than to the defense ministry to ensure independence.
The January naval exercises occurred during a period of mass protests in Iran and a crackdown that resulted in more than 7,000 deaths. One month after the drills, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, starting a war. The U.S. government has criticized South Africa’s relationship with Iran, with the Trump administration characterizing the country’s foreign policy as anti-American.
The findings could influence international trade relations if the U.S. government pursues further diplomatic or economic measures. The U.S. and Israel are currently engaged in a war with Iran that has cost the United States an estimated $47 billion. South Africa's foreign policy positioning involves its standing within the BRICS bloc—which grew to 11 members in 2024 including Iran.
Currently, there is no set deadline for when the president will complete his review or if the confidential status of the report will be lifted for public or parliamentary scrutiny. Decisions regarding next steps remain at the discretion of the president.