Newly-appointed South African envoy to the United States, Mcebisi Jonas, is facing scrutiny over deep ties to Iran through MTN Group, the telecommunications giant he chairs. MTN owns a 49% stake in Irancell, Iran’s second-largest mobile operator—raising concerns about national security and diplomatic priorities, especially as the U.S. continues to pressure Tehran over its nuclear ambitions.
MTN’s entanglement in Iran has a troubling history. A South African court recently dismissed a case brought by rival telecom Turkcell, which alleged MTN bribed both Iranian and South African officials to secure the Irancell contract. Court documents revealed accusations that MTN influenced South Africa to back Iran’s nuclear program at an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting.
MTN has since exited conflict-heavy markets in Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan, but retained its Iran operations. Its continued involvement in the region has drawn criticism from human rights watchdogs. Opensecrets.org.za accused MTN of enabling internet shutdowns during political unrest in countries like Sudan, Uganda, and Iran.
Adding to the controversy, a U.S. federal court this week allowed a lawsuit against MTN to proceed, alleging the company aided the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—a U.S.-designated terror organization—by facilitating operations that contributed to attacks on American troops and contractors in Iraq.
Mcebisi Jonas’s personal record may complicate matters further. In 2020, he labeled President Donald Trump a “racist homophobe” and “narcissistic right-winger,” echoing rhetoric that got his predecessor, Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, expelled after comparing Trump to a white supremacist leader.
Despite these concerns, Jonas is credited within South Africa as a rare anti-corruption voice. He notably resisted bribes during his tenure as deputy finance minister and exposed “state capture” under President Jacob Zuma, implicating the Gupta family in massive government corruption.
