Ramaphosa talks tough to Trump over US-Israel-Iran war [video]
· The South African
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the escalating conflict in the Middle East as “calamitous”, stating that he is interested in the opportunity to speak with United States President Donald Trump about the need for a ceasefire.
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What is currently happening in the Middle East is calamitous and very concerning. I have spoken to some Heads of State in the region to pass our commiserations and urged them to prioritise the safety of all civilians. pic.twitter.com/2cU5zXkGg1
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 4, 2026
Ramaphosa told the media on the sidelines at the energy conference in Cape Town on Wednesday that this war must end immediately, as lives are being lost unnecessarily.
This follows after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials on Saturday, 28 February 2026.
“We have issued a clear statement that we want a ceasefire, We want this madness to come to an end. Donald Trump is very busy right now, he has got a war on his hands and obviously, if an opportunity were to open we would talk and say there must be a ceasefire,” he said.
Ramaphosa stressed that dialogue is needed to resolve the conflict.
“Dialogue is always the best way of ending conflict and ending war and we want this war to come to an end,” he said.
US-ISRAEL-IRAN WAR
Al Jazeera recently reported that 787 people have been killed across Iran since the joint US-Israeli attacks, with the deadliest single incident hitting a girls’ elementary school in Minab, where about 165 people, mostly young children lost their lives on Saturday.
Trump stated that the US plans to dismantle Iran’s ballistic missile and naval capabilities and halt its alleged nuclear weapons development.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
SOUTH AFRICA OFFERS TO MEDIATE IN MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
Ramaphosa expressed concern over the situation in the Middle East, He said he has reached out to regional leaders to convey condolences and stressed the need to prioritise civilian safety.
The president says South Africa stands ready to support mediation efforts, particularly within the framework of the United Nations, if an opportunity emerges.
South Africa has issued a clear statement calling for a ceasefire. Dialogue is always the best way to conflict resolution. pic.twitter.com/5tlRmlJTNN
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 4, 2026
“South Africa is always ready to play a contributing role, either in mediation or whatever. If a gap opens or if we are asked, we always live up to obligations. We’re a global citizen and we therefore can play whatever role the UN would like us to play,” he said.