South Africa has launched a board of inquiry to examine Iran’s participation in naval exercises off Cape Town, amid growing US scrutiny, Bloomberg reported.

The panel will determine whether military officials ignored or misinterpreted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions. Senior officers could face dismissal if found insubordinate.

Siphiwe Dlamini, a SANDF spokesman, said the findings will be made public. “We will be meeting later today to determine arrangements for the board of inquiry, such as when it will start,” he told Bloomberg.

The exercises involved China, Russia, and other BRICS nations. Iranian vessels docked at Simon’s Town naval base and were seen in nearby waters, despite reports of observer status, Bloomberg noted. The drills coincided with a deadly crackdown on protests in Iran, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledging several thousand deaths.

The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs criticised South Africa for permitting Iran’s participation, saying it undermined US security, Bloomberg reported. This follows a series of US criticisms over South African policies, including Black Economic Empowerment and a legal case against Israel over Gaza.

Independent defence analyst Helmoed Heitman told Bloomberg that the orders given to the military remain unclear. “Did the president tell them to dis-invite Iran or make their participation less visible? And if dis-invited, did Iran, with China’s backing, refuse to leave? Hopefully the board of inquiry will answer those questions,” he said.

The Democratic Alliance has called for an urgent parliamentary debate. Defence spokesman Chris Hattingh said: “Who gave final approval? Whose instructions were followed? If this reflects a wider culture of insubordination, it must be confronted now. The SANDF cannot operate with parallel lines of authority.”

The inquiry is expected to clarify whether the military followed presidential guidance or acted independently.