Sudan rejects Iranian offer for Red Sea naval presence in exchange for military support
July 16, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – The Sudanese military has rejected an Iranian proposal to establish a permanent military ship in Port Sudan in exchange for continued military aid in the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The request for an Iranian helicopter carrier in Port Sudan is part of ongoing negotiations between the two countries regarding a potential defence cooperation agreement. Despite the Sudanese army’s rejection of this request, sources indicate that Iran continues to supply drones to Sudan.
According to these sources, Sudanese Islamist leaders with ties to the Iranian regime have attempted to mediate an agreement between the Sudanese army and the Iranian government. However, discussions in April did not lead to a deal due to opposition from Sudanese military leaders.
In a separate development, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov promised “unrestricted qualitative military aid” to the Sudanese government last April. This aid could potentially include the deployment of Russian forces in Sudan.
Sources have confirmed high-level coordination between Russia and Iran to supply the Sudanese army with drones, heavy artillery ammunition, and aircraft missiles. This support comes as the Sudanese army faces shortages after the RSF seized key military warehouses in Khartoum.
The Sudanese leadership’s rejection of Iran’s request for a permanent naval base in Port Sudan is reportedly due to concerns about potential backlash from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Western countries. Notably, Iran later modified its request to establish a dual-use commercial and military port, which was also rejected by Sudanese officials.
Despite the rejection of the naval base, Iran’s military support to Sudan is evident. Tehran began sending swarms of drones to Sudan shortly after diplomatic relations were restored and former Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq met with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in early February of the previous year.
Sources have also revealed past discussions between Sudanese and Russian officials regarding the potential acquisition of Russian SU-30 and SU-35 fighter jets. However, these talks have stalled due to new conditions set by al-Burhan concerning the establishment of a Russian base in Port Sudan.
Despite the pause in negotiations regarding the fighter jets, the Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army, Yasir Al-Atta, announced in late May that Sudan and Russia are still planning to sign several military and economic agreements in the near future.