Iran and South Africa; Expanding International Politics and Economy

Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa, arrived in Iran on Sunday leading a delegation of 180 members, including six cabinet ministers and many business activists, for a three-day visit. According to the official news agency IRNA, on the first day of this visit, eight cooperation documents were signed in the fields of trade and industry, the establishment of a joint investment task force, and agricultural cooperation between the two countries. The IRNA article elaborates on the potential of the ports of Bandar Abbas and Johannesburg for expanding exports between Tehran and Pretoria, describing it as very key. It emphasizes that these two ports are gateways for both countries into two significant economic areas: Central Asia and the large African market within the free trade areas of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The SADC area encompasses a population of over 350 million, while the COMESA area has over 300 million. Jamshid Asadi, an economic strategy professor residing in France, believes that the economic value of the African president's visit is far more significant than its political importance. He states that South Africa is very important in producing many raw materials and diverse metals and that even before the Islamic Revolution, this country was a significant market for Iranian oil, which, especially under Iran's current policy to reach a production ceiling of 4.5 million barrels per day, could be a good market for Iranian oil. The visit of the South African president, occurring in the post-JCPOA context and the transformation of the foreign relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, could open new avenues for both countries. South Africa holds a decisive position on the African continent and in international arenas, as it is one of the founders of the African Union and is a member of international organizations such as the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, Group of 77, and Group of 20. Habib Hosseini-Fard, an international relations analyst residing in Germany, comments on South Africa's unique political position and the opportunities that may arise for Iran, stating: 'South Africa is the main power of the African continent. Consider that it is the only African country that is a member of the G20, and due to its relatively strong economic position, large area, high population, and role in various African organizations, it has a favorable status in international interactions. Therefore, anyone wanting to engage with Africa considers South Africa one of the important gateways and bases. However, Iran has not yet been able to utilize South Africa's capacities in political and economic fields.' Although economic relations between Iran and South Africa are currently at a low level, there are significant potential capabilities for joint cooperation between the two countries. These areas can be defined in sectors such as industry, mining, construction, agriculture, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, steel, shipping, and new technologies. A memorandum of understanding on water resource management, a cultural and artistic cooperation program, and insurance cooperation were among the documents signed on Sunday between the two countries. A memorandum of understanding for the exchange of national information related to money laundering and cooperation between the Iranian Industry Research Institute and PetroSA of South Africa were also signed in the presence of the presidents of both countries. Other opportunities for cooperation between Iran and South Africa include transportation, especially rail transport, oil, and energy.