Ramaphosa: Board of inquiry still investigating Iran’s role in naval drill

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday that the board of inquiry appointed to investigate Iran’s involvement in the multinational naval exercise in South Africa is still gathering facts to determine how Iran was allowed to participate.

The board was set up after the SA Navy allegedly ignored Ramaphosa’s directive to limit Iran to observer status during the exercise.

The United States criticised Pretoria for allowing Iran to take part in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) naval drill, which was held off the coast of Cape Town last week.

Ramaphosa said although he did not approve of Iran’s participation, he was still collecting information before making an informed decision.

“We did raise with China the issue of Iran and said that it would be best that they withdrew and not participate. Having done so, many engagements happened and in the course of it all we released that we needed more information and that is why have constituted the board of inquiry,” he said.

Ramaphosa added that he did not want to make a premature decision regarding consequences.

“It is a matter that everyone in defence and government is seized with at the moment. We would rather do things carefully, and examine every aspect before just blurting out what people want to hear in the public galler.”