President Cyril Ramaphosa is calling for restraint and dialogue in Iran, following weeks of violent protests against the government that have led to thousands of deaths.
The protests have seen authorities shut down the internet and its airspace except international flights to and from Iran, as they blamed outside influence for fuelling the protests.
Pretoria, which has trade relations and are both members of BRICS, said it is following the developments in Iran with concern.
“The reports of unrest and the subsequent loss of life are concerning, and South Africa urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
South Africa firmly believes that the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are universal human rights that must be upheld without exception.
We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that citizens exercise their right to protest in peace,” said the presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya.
Magwenya added that sustainable peace and stability can only be achieved through solutions that center the agency of the Iranian people.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who has been instigating protests in Iran and calling for regime change, seems to have temporarily pulled back on his threat, for a possible military strike against Tehran.
This after he posted a message in his social media account to Iranian protestors that “help is on the way.”
Trump’s comments come after he revealed that he was assured that the killing of protesters has been halted and no executions are being planned.
“We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping, it’s stopped, it’s stopping.
And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or execution, so I’ve been told that on good authority,” said Trump.
The death toll from the protests differ, with human rights groups saying nearly 3,000 people have died, while others estimate it to more than 12,000.
