A well-placed government source has confirmed that Iran has been asked to withdraw from the BRICS Navy drills off the South African coast in an effort to prevent a further escalation in diplomatic tensions with the United States.
Iranian vessels that arrived in Simons Town in the Western Cape last week, are thus no longer expected to participate in the drills, which are being led by China.
The diplomatic discussions initiated by South Africa seeking Irans withdrawal comes in the context of Pretoria seeking not to escalate tensions with the United States given an already precarious diplomatic and trade relationship.
