South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Washington on May 21, 2025, with his delegation, seeking a diplomatic reset and a fresh start after months of strained relations with the President Donald Trump administration.

Iranian and U.S. negotiators resumed talks on Friday in Rome to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Iranian media reported, despite Tehran warning that a new deal might not be possible amid mutually exclusive demands.

Ramaphosa enjoyed a brief wave of sympathy after his White House ambush but he is a problematic leader, writes Sizwe Mpofu Walsh.