Sudan, Iran trade ambassadors after 8-year rupture

Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan received an Iranian ambassador, on July 21, 2024, and sent his own to Tehran, the government said. [AFP]

Sudan's de facto leader, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received an Iranian ambassador Sunday and sent his own to Tehran, the government said, cementing a rapprochement after an eight-year rupture.

Sudan and Iran agreed last October to resume diplomatic relations, as the army-aligned government scrambled for allies during its war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Sudanese government, loyal to the army in its 15-month fight against the RSF, announced in a statement that Burhan had received Tehran's new ambassador Hassan Shah Hosseini in Port Sudan.

The Red Sea city has become Sudan's de facto seat of government since Khartoum became wracked by fighting.

This is "the beginning of a new phase in the course of bilateral relations between the two countries," foreign ministry undersecretary Hussein al-Amin said as Burhan sent off Sudan's new ambassador to Iran, Abdelaziz Hassan Saleh.

Sudan broke off relations with Iran in 2016 in a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom's embassy in Tehran was attacked following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

Several Saudi allies in the region also cut ties with Iran at the time.

In March 2023, however, Riyadh and Tehran announced the restoration of their relations following an agreement brokered by China.

Iran has since moved to cement or restore relations with neighboring Arab countries.

Since Sudan's war began in April 2023, several foreign powers have supported rival forces.

In December, Sudan expelled diplomats from the United Arab Emirates on allegations that the Gulf state was funneling weapons to the RSF.

The UAE has denied taking sides in the conflict.

Egypt and Turkey have backed the army.

The United States in February voiced concern at reported arms shipments by Washington's foe Iran to Sudan's military.

Around that time, the army recovered some territory after months of defeats at the hands of the RSF.

Sudan has also recently drawn closer to Russia, which experts say has reconsidered its previous relationship with the RSF, with which it had links through the mercenary Wagner group.

Sudan under former strongman Omar al-Bashir, who was toppled in 2019, developed close relations with Iran's clerical state.

The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people, with some estimates placing the death toll as high as 150,000, according to the U.S. envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello.

It has also created the world's worst displacement crisis - with more than 11 million uprooted, according to the United Nations and brought the country to the brink of famine.