Iran’s ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, confirmed that Tehran is guaranteeing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for South African ships. “If the Republic of South Africa is in need of such an action, we are positively and strongly supporting this idea and are able to cooperate with them to pass their cargo and tankers,” he said at a United Ulama Council event in Cape Town.

The ambassador clarified the Strait isn’t closed to everyone: it’s open to “friendly countries” like China, India, Pakistan, Turkey and the Philippines. Only vessels linked to the US and Israel are restricted.

The offer comes amid peak tension between South Africa and Washington. The US ambassador warned that ties with Iran are “an impediment to good relations” with Trump. But South Africa’s Director General of International Relations, Dane Zangor, pushed back: “There is no reason to cut ties with Iran.”

The relationship runs deep. Iran supported sanctions against apartheid in 1979, and this year South Africa hosted three Iranian warships for naval exercises off Cape Town. South Africa also brought a genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice.