Iran proposes joint economic commission with South Africa at BRICS meeting

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in New Delhi, India, where he expressed Iran's readiness to hold a joint economic commission with South Africa. During the meeting, Pezeshkian said that South Africa and the late Nelson Mandela have long symbolized the struggle against oppression and racial discrimination, and he praised South Africa's current defense of the Palestinian people.

Pezeshkian noted the shared perspectives of both nations on international issues and emphasized Iran's wish to expand relations with South Africa across various sectors to promote this shared vision globally. He invited President Ramaphosa to visit Tehran and stated that Iran is prepared to hold the joint commission meeting to advance cooperative programs and strengthen bilateral ties.

President Ramaphosa spoke about the Iranian nation's resistance and steadfastness in the face of enemy aggression, affirming that South Africa's relations with Iran have always been significant and that his country is committed to further strengthening and expanding this relationship in the future. He condemned Israel's actions in Gaza and said South Africa considers itself duty-bound to support the Palestinian cause, recalling that Nelson Mandela himself emphasized the importance of supporting Palestine.

Ramaphosa also highlighted the importance of expanding economic cooperation between Iran and South Africa within the BRICS framework, noting that a joint economic commission could serve as a fruitful long-term strategy for materializing the economic agendas of both nations. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, underscoring the continued engagement between the two countries on multilateral platforms.

According to Mehr News, the discussions reflect ongoing diplomatic efforts to deepen ties between Iran and South Africa, with a focus on economic collaboration and shared positions on international issues, including support for the Palestinian cause.