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July 16, 2024 (Port Sudan) – The Sudanese military has rejected an Iranian proposal to establish a permanent warship presence in Port Sudan in exchange for continued military assistance in the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Iran’s request to station a helicopter carrier in Port Sudan is part of ongoing negotiations between the two countries on a potential defense cooperation agreement. Although the Sudanese military has rejected the request, sources said Iran is continuing to provide Sudan with drones.
According to these sources, Sudanese Islamist leaders with ties to the Iranian regime had tried to mediate a deal between the Sudanese army and the Iranian government. But negotiations in April failed to produce a deal due to opposition from Sudanese military leaders.
In addition, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov pledged last April to provide the Sudanese government with “unlimited high-quality military assistance.” This assistance could include the deployment of Russian troops to Sudan.
Sources confirmed that Russia and Iran had high-level coordination to provide Sudanese army with drones, heavy artillery ammunition and aerial missiles. Russia provided this aid to Iran as Sudanese army faced shortage of supplies after RSF seized key military warehouses in Khartoum.
Sudan’s leadership reportedly rejected Iran’s request to build a permanent naval base in Port Sudan out of fear of possible backlash from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Western countries. Notably, Iran later amended its request to build a dual-use commercial and military port, which was also rejected by Sudanese officials.
Although Iran has rejected a proposal to establish a naval base in Sudan, Iran’s military support for Sudan is evident. Soon after the two countries restored diplomatic relations, Tehran began sending large numbers of drones to Sudan, and Sudan’s former Foreign Minister Ali Sadik met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian in early February last year.
The source also revealed that Sudanese and Russian officials had discussed the possibility of purchasing Russian SU-30 and SU-35 fighter jets in the past. However, these negotiations stalled due to Burhan’s new conditions for the establishment of a Russian base in Port Sudan.
Despite the suspension of negotiations over fighter jets, Sudan’s army assistant commander-in-chief Yasser Atta announced in late May that Sudan and Russia still plan to sign a number of military and economic agreements in the near future.
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