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In recent months, several reports have been published indicating the reopening of diplomatic relations between Sudan and Iran. Series of high-level meetings have been held during the last year, at which foundations have been laid for a restart of cooperation that were suspended in 2016, when Iran and Sudan severed diplomatic relations.
The terms of this new stage of cooperation include Iran’s support to preserve Sudan’s territorial integrity, through the delivery of UAV to the Sudanese army, as well as the transfer of technology in the fields of industry, engineering and technology.
In 90’s Iran supplied Sudan with arms and supported it in the development of its national defense industry, as well as finding a ally that would allow it to ease diplomatic isolation and have an ally in the Arab world. However, following the assault of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in 2016, the two countries severed diplomatic relations.
With the start of talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the attempt to restore its diplomatic relations, a new era opened, which also allowed the rapprochement of Sudan, which was at the time in a cruel civil war. Precisely, the development of the war and the latest failures that the Sudanese army suffered served as a catalyst for relations with Iran, in search of an ally who will again supply it with defense material and enable it to reverse the situation with its country.
Since the end of 2023, several IRGC flights have been detected form southern Iran to Sudan, in which defense equipment was delivered to the Sudanese army. The material that Ian has delivered to Sudan includes the presence of Mohajer-6 UAVs. In addition to this shipment, instructors form both Iranian army and the IRGC have travelled to Sudan to provide training in the handling of the transferred materials. Although the number of UAV units to date has not been very high, they have already been employed in the war and have been a turning point in the actions of Sudanese army against the paramilitary group of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
But in addition to the possible impact that Iran’s delivery of arms to the Sudan’s military may have on the development of civil war, there are a number of diplomatic and geostrategic implications worth nothing. The revival of relations between Iran and Sudan is a further result of the crisis between the government of Sudan and the UAE, owing to the political and military support that the UAE provided to the RSF. With its support for Sudan, Iran benefits from reducing UAE influence.
On the other hand, one of Iran’s main interests in restoring relations with Sudan and increasing its influence in the country is because it regards it as a strategic access to the Red Sea, through the 700km coast that Sudan has.
Finally, the sale of drones and military equipment represents an additional source of income to Iran, which makes it possible to alleviate the situation of economic crisis that it suffers due to the international sanctions imposed.
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