Iran Excluded from BRICS+ Military Exercises After Trump’s Tariff Threats

Iran has withdrawn from active participation in the BRICS+ naval exercises in South Africa following threats by Donald Trump to impose tariffs on participating countries.

According to News24, the decision was prompted by an ultimatum from the U.S. administration stating that countries that continue trade and military cooperation with the Iranian regime would face a 25% tariff on their exports to the United States.

South Africa was the primary initiator of the decision to refuse Iran’s participation.

The South African government asked Tehran to step back out of concern that Iran’s public military presence could jeopardize sensitive trade and diplomatic relations with the United States.

“From now on, any country that does business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a 25% tariff on all transactions with the United States of America. This order is final,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

For South Africa, the risk of losing access to the U.S. market outweighed the value of partnership within the bloc, and Iranian frigates were therefore asked to leave the Simon’s Town naval base even before the live-fire drills began.

At present, South Africa remains one of the largest beneficiaries of U.S. trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

This legislation grants duty-free access to the U.S. market for a wide range of African exports.

It should be recalled that on January 10, China, Russia, and Iran launched week-long joint naval exercises, Will for Peace – 2026, in the waters off South Africa.

During the opening of the drills, Chinese military officials stated that Brazil, Egypt, and Ethiopia were participating as observers.

Although South Africa regularly conducts military exercises with China and Russia, the current drills are taking place amid heightened tensions between the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and several BRICS+ countries, including China, Iran, South Africa, and Brazil.