JOHANNESBURG, June 19 (Xinhua) -- South Africa welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Thursday.
In a statement, the department said South Africa urged all regional actors to respect the de-escalation of military conflict and to work toward the full implementation of the MoU and the conclusion of a final agreement.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said the agreement between the United States and Iran "hopefully ends the unlawful use of force and violations of the UN Charter in this war."
"South Africa has consistently called for international disputes to be settled through negotiation -- not war. All countries, particularly developing countries, have felt the economic repercussions of this war," Lamola said.
He said the MoU provides a framework for durable peace and regional stability in the Middle East, as it reaffirms the need for peace and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is critical to stabilizing volatility in global oil markets and alleviating the energy and food security challenges faced by developing countries, the department said.
South Africa encouraged all parties involved in the process to work toward achieving a just and lasting peace, stability and development in the Middle East and beyond.
Iran, the United States and Pakistan announced the finalization of the MoU early Monday to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The Iranian and U.S. presidents signed the MoU electronically early Thursday. ■
