Deputy Minister Pahad's Statement on Comments Accusing Iran of Industrial Espionage

The Department of Foreign Affairs expresses its regret at comments attributed to Mr. John Sunde, a Foreign Affairs official, accusing Iran of industrial espionage, made during a presentation to parliament's Foreign Relations Committee on Monday 31 July.

Presentations to the Foreign Relations Committee are substantially a reflection of South Africa's foreign policy perspectives and not individual interpretations of events. In this regard, the statement attributed to Mr. Sunde bears no resemblance to SA's foreign policy approach to Iran nor was it a mandated position of either the department or Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Accordingly, the Department extends its unequivocal apology to the government and people of Iran for this alleged misrepresentation of SA' policy towards Iran. South Africa enjoys good bilateral and fraternal relations with the government and people of Iran.

In this context, the government will continue to bolster its relations with Iran through the existing mechanism of the SA-Iran Joint Commission aimed at deepening and consolidating bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries, said Deputy Minister Pahad.

Fore more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
2 August 2002.