Iran and Sudan Exchange Ambassadors After Eight Years of Diplomatic Break

The Sudanese government announced that Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the commander of the army and de facto leader of the country, received the new Iranian ambassador, marking the end of an eight-year diplomatic break between the two countries. According to AFP, this meeting took place on Sunday, July 31, and Sudan has also sent its ambassador to Tehran. Iran and Sudan agreed to resume diplomatic relations last October, as the Sudanese military-backed government sought allies in its war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias. The Sudanese military government stated that Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met with Hassan Shah-Hosseini, the new Iranian ambassador, in Port Sudan. Since Khartoum, the capital, has become the scene of intense conflict between two warring factions, Port Sudan on the Red Sea has turned into the headquarters of the Sudanese government. Hussein al-Amin, the deputy foreign minister of Sudan, stated during the dispatch of Abdulaziz Hassan Saleh, the new ambassador to Iran, that this marks the beginning of a new phase in bilateral relations between the two countries. Sudan severed its relations with Iran in 2016 in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric by Riyadh. Several Saudi allies in the region also cut ties with Iran at that time. However, Riyadh and Tehran resumed their relations in March 2023 following Chinese mediation. Since then, Iran has revitalized or strengthened its relations with neighboring Arab countries. Since the outbreak of the war in Sudan in April 2023, some foreign powers have supported rival forces. Last December, Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates of sending weapons to the RSF and expelled Abu Dhabi diplomats from its territory. The UAE has denied involvement in the war. Egypt and Turkey support the Sudanese army. The United States expressed concern last February about the shipment of weapons from Iran to the Sudanese army. At the same time, the Sudanese army regained some areas of the country from the RSF after months of defeats. Sudan had close relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran during the time of former dictator Omar al-Bashir, who was overthrown in 2019. According to Tom Periello, the U.S. envoy to Sudan, the war in the country has so far left tens of thousands dead, with some estimates putting the death toll as high as 150,000. This war has also created a wave of refugees, with the United Nations reporting over 11 million displaced and the country on the brink of famine.