Breaking News: Iran grants permission to South African

As of late March 2026, Iran has officially granted safe passage to South African vessels and cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This development occurred in the context of a broader regional conflict in which Iran restricted the passage of United States and Israeli-linked vessels.

The Iranian Ambassador to South Africa, Mansour Shakib Mehr, confirmed that South Africa is considered a ‘friendly country’ due to its non-aligned foreign policy and refusal to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran despite international pressure. South African government officials, including Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, have verified that cargo destined for South Africa is passing through the strait without interruption, although certain conditions—such as payment in non-dollar currencies like the Iranian rial—have been discussed as part of the arrangement.

Supporting Evidence

• •In March 2026, the Iranian Ambassador to Pretoria, Mansour Shakib Mehr, publicly guaranteed safe passage for all South African-bound oil tankers during a meeting at the United Ulama Council in Cape Town.
• •South Africa’s Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe, confirmed in the National Assembly on March 26, 2026, that vessels carrying supplies for South Africa were transiting the Strait of Hormuz without interruption.
• •Reports indicate that Iran has established a ‘special arrangement’ for BRICS+ partners, including South Africa, China, and India, to maintain energy supply chains through the contested waterway.
• •The Iranian government set criteria for this passage, including the requirement that vessels must not be in alliance with the U.S. or Israel and that payments for transit-related services be made in rials or other non-dollar currencies.

Contradicting Evidence

• •Maritime logistics experts, such as Andrew Pike of Bowmans, have expressed skepticism regarding the practical implementation of ‘safe passage,’ noting that South African cargo often travels on vessels owned or insured by entities from countries Iran considers hostile (e.g., the U.S. or its allies).
• •Despite the guarantee of safe passage, global shipping insurers continue to impose high war-risk premiums on all vessels in the region, which still affects the final cost of South African imports.
• •Some analysts describe the ‘safe passage’ as more of a diplomatic gesture than a practical guarantee, given the ongoing operational risks such as naval mines and active combat zones in the Gulf.