Newsweek published on 16 January 2026 an article titled "US Issues Strong Statement on China-led Naval Drills with Iran" by Micah McCartney.
Three Iranian warships--a corvette and two converted tankers--arrived in South Africa for the BRICS' naval exercise involving ships from South Africa, China, Russia, and the UAE.
The US embassy in Pretoria issued a statement that "it is particularly unconscionable that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were shooting, jailing, and torturing Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves."
The South African government apparently asked the Iranians to keep the ships in the harbor and only participate in the naval exercise as observers.
