South Africa has reportedly asked Iran to scale back its role in the “Will for Peace 2026” naval drills, moving the BRICS ally from an active participant to a mere observer. The sudden shift follows a series of aggressive economic and military threats from US President Donald Trump, who warned that any country doing business with Tehran will face a 25% tariff on all trade with the US. For Pretoria, the stakes are existential. Already facing a 30% US tariff and desperately seeking an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), South Africa cannot afford to further strain ties with its second-largest trading partner. As Trump threatens military intervention in Iran amid historic anti-government protests, he is successfully using “tariff threat” to reshape military engagements and alliances.
---
Firstpost Africa | Joshua Barnes | Africa | Global South | Geopolitics | Military Coup | Environment | Climate Change | Firstpost | News Live | World News | Latest News | Global News | International News | News | Trending News
Firstpost is an Indian news and media website. Get all the incisive opinions, in-depth analyses and other visual stories that matter to you and the world right here on this channel.
Subscribe to Firstpost channel and press the bell icon to get notified when we go live. https://www.youtube.com/@Firstpost
Follow Firstpost on Website: https://www.firstpost.com
Follow Firstpost on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstpost/
Follow Firstpost on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstpostin/
Follow Firstpost on X: https://twitter.com/firstpost
Follow Firstpost on WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va6zOIrEQIamseyg762V