JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s president has strongly criticized the recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, describing them as violations of international law and calling for urgent restraint from all sides.
The strikes, carried out on Saturday, were justified by Washington and Tel Aviv as necessary action against what they described as threats from Iran. In response, Iran launched a wave of missiles targeting Gulf countries that host American military bases, as well as Israel, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appealed to all parties to act responsibly and in line with international law, international humanitarian law, and the principles of the United Nations Charter. In a statement, his office emphasized that under the UN Charter, self-defense is permitted only when a country has been subjected to an actual armed attack.
The statement rejected the concept of “anticipatory self-defense,” stressing that international law does not allow military action based on perceived or future threats.
Ramaphosa renewed his call for intensified diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and reopen meaningful negotiations. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said the strikes aimed to eliminate imminent dangers, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as necessary to remove an existential threat.
