Chinese, South African naval commanders visit Iranian task group in Cape Town

Commanders and personnel from the Chinese and South African navies have visited an Iranian naval task group docked at the port of Cape Town, on the sidelines of a major multinational maritime exercise hosted by South Africa.

The visits took place as naval forces from Iran, China, South Africa, and several other countries participated in the combined maritime drills known as “Will for Peace 2026.”

Personnel from the Chinese navy task group, which arrived in Cape Town to take part in the exercise, boarded Iranian vessels to meet with their Iranian counterparts. The visit included the Makran forward base ship, the Shahid Naghdi destroyer of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, and the Shahid Mahdavi vessel of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy.

The purpose of the visit was described as face-to-face engagement and exchange of professional experiences, aimed at strengthening relations between the countries’ naval forces.

Personnel from the South African Navy also boarded the same Iranian vessels, meeting with Iranian crews and taking part in exchanges focused on cooperation and experience-sharing.

Rear Admiral Monde Lobese, commander of the South African navy, personally visited the Iranian vessels participating in the exercise, touring various sections of the Makran, Shahid Naghdi, and Shahid Mahdavi vessels.

During the visit, Lobese recalled a previous trip to the Islamic Republic, saying it had allowed him to become familiar with the high capabilities and extensive capacity of the Iranian Navy.

He added that the presence of the Islamic Republic’s naval task group in Cape Town was important and valuable to South Africa, referring to the country as a brotherly and friendly nation.

The visits came as part of the broader BRICS Plus joint naval exercise “Will for Peace 2026,” which was being held off the coast of South Africa.

• Iran displays naval power, slams external threats during BRICS Plus drills

The drill included naval forces from Iran, China, Russia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

As part of its participation, Iran deployed several naval assets, including the trio of vessels.

The drills involved more than 20 naval and aerial units and included live-fire exercises using semi-heavy weapons, aimed at testing operational readiness and coordination among participating forces.

South African authorities have described the exercise as part of the BRICS Plus framework, intended to enhance maritime security and ensure the free flow of international trade.

Iranian officials have described the exercise as an opportunity to demonstrate the country’s naval capabilities and its commitment to expanding military cooperation with international partners.

Speaking during the drills, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of the Iranian Navy, said the Islamic Republic’s strength was rooted in its people and emphasized the global presence of the country’s naval forces. He also criticized external attempts to undermine the country’s security and sovereignty.

Iranian officials have identified participation in the BRICS Plus exercise as an indicator of both the country’s long-standing maritime tradition and its growing naval reach on the global stage.

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