South Africa's defence minister has ordered an inquiry into reports of Iran's participation in navy exercises, apparently against the instructions of the president, the ministry said Friday.

The probe comes after the United States sharply criticised the past week's drills, which brought vessels from China, Iran, Russia and the United Arab Emirates to waters off Cape Town.

Local media reported President Cyril Ramaphosa had instructed the defence minister to withdraw the three Iranian warships from the drills, which came amid the Iranian........

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