Former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has attributed the ongoing war in Iran to the collapse of multilateralism. In an interview with SABC, he criticized powerful nations for abusing their authority. Motlanthe expressed uncertainty about the reasons behind attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran.
In an exclusive interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on 9 March 2026, former President Kgalema Motlanthe connected the current conflict in Iran directly to the breakdown of multilateral institutions. He argued that powerful countries are increasingly disregarding established international norms, leading to unilateral actions.
Motlanthe highlighted the unclear motivations for the military strikes initiated by Israel and the United States against Iran. 'It is not clear what could have prompted Israel and the United States to launch attacks on Iran,' he stated during the discussion.
Drawing on historical patterns, Motlanthe reflected on the decline of empires. He said: 'If you follow the rise and fall of the Empires, you will always find that as the empire is coming down it is always led by people. It is never led by people who adhere to and respect the rule of law. It is always led by characters who go to bad not knowing what tomorrow holds and the following day, they just wake and do what they want to do.'
This perspective comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with reports of Iran's internal leadership changes, including the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader following the death of his predecessor. Motlanthe's comments underscore concerns over the erosion of global cooperation in resolving conflicts.