Washington thinktank exec shares US view on SANDF Chief “solidarity” visit to Iran - it’s not pretty

Washington’s patience with Pretoria is wearing thin. Senior fellow Joshua Meservey of the Hudson Institute warns that the head of South Africa’s defence force, General Rudzani Mphawanya, may have dealt a fresh blow to US–SA relations with his recent trip to Iran and remarks in solidarity with its regime. In conversation with Alec Hogg, Meservey unpacks why the incident - whether sanctioned or not - will deepen mistrust, complicate trade negotiations, and feed growing US frustration over Pretoria’s political choices.