Iran, Sudan Exchange Ambassadors After Eight-Year Thaw

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Facts

• In the latest sign of diplomatic rapprochement after an eight-year hiatus, Iran and Sudan exchanged ambassadors on Sunday following last year's agreement to resume diplomatic relations.¹
• The Sudanese government announced that the country's de facto leader, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received Tehran's new ambassador, Hassan Shah Hosseini, in Port Sudan.²
• Abdulaziz Hassan Saleh was, in turn, appointed as the north-east African country's first ambassador to Iran since Sudan suspended diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016.³
• Sudanese Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin described the exchange of ambassadors as 'the beginning of a new phase in the course of bilateral relations between the two countries.'⁴
• According to Iran's foreign ministry, both countries agreed to open their respective embassies and prepare to exchange official delegations to explore ways to expand bilateral cooperation.⁵
• Meanwhile, Sudan's military disputed earlier reports claiming it rejected an Iranian proposal to permanently station a helicopter carrier in Port Sudan to support its ongoing battle with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Voice of America, ³XINHUA, ⁴Iran International, ⁵Irna and ⁶Middleeastmonitor.

Narratives

• Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by PressTV. The diplomatic rapprochement and the ambassadors' return are an encouraging signal for war-torn Sudan. Contrary to Western media reporting, Tehran's main objective is to support Khartoum in ending the proxy war in its own country and gaining absolute independence from foreign powers and their interests. Iran's strategic policy attaches great significance to the concerns of Muslim nations. By restoring diplomatic ties, Sudan's official government gains a powerful partner on its path to establishing peace.
• Anti-Iran narrative, as provided by Eurasiareview. While it's good news when countries re-establish diplomatic relations, the Sudan-Iran case differs. Iran is fueling the conflict in Sudan by supplying the national army with drones — and there are indications that Tehran is supplying both parties to the conflict with weapons. Iran isn't interested in ending the conflict, and the revitalization of diplomatic relations with the defacto government primarily serves Tehran's geostrategic goal of establishing a foothold in Africa and the Red Sea at the expense of Sudan.

Predictions