The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has sparked a diplomatic firestorm by allegedly defying a direct order from President Cyril Ramaphosa to exclude Iran from the "Will for Peace 2026" naval exercises. Despite the President's instruction that Iran should only act as an "observer" to avoid jeopardizing trade ties with the United States, Iranian warships were spotted fully participating in the drills alongside Chinese and Russian vessels. Thabiso Tema spoke to Dean Wingrin Defence Analyst.