Iran and South Africa signed a cooperation agreement in Pretoria Thursday during Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s meeting with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor as the Islamic Republic pitches its membership in the BRICS group of developing economies, Al-Monitor reported.
The signing took place after the two countries’ top diplomats co-chaired the 15th Iran-South Africa Joint Commission of Cooperation.
Iran is looking to join BRICS, the influential group of developing economies consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. As chair of the group of five countries seen as an alternative to the Western hegemony, South Africa will host the annual BRICS summit in Johannesburg Aug. 22-24. Iranian President Raisi will visit South Africa to attend the meeting, during which new applicants will be considered.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the ministers emphasized “the need for comprehensive political and economic cooperation between the two countries to enhance intercontinental and global interactions.”
The statement went on that Amirabdollahian made the case for Iran to join BRICS and urged South Africa to support Tehran’s bid for membership. Pandor expressed support for Iran’s bid, it read.
"We hope to obtain the opportunity of accelerated membership under strong support we hope to receive from South Africa," Amirabdollohian said at a briefing in Pretoria.