Sudan’s Burhan warns groups against backing Iran in Gulf conflict

March 5, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Sovereign Council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Thursday warned groups fighting alongside the army against declaring support for Iran in its conflict with Gulf states, saying the military would not allow any party to speak on its behalf.

The comments follow a military spokesperson’s announcement that legal action would be taken against Islamist-linked groups that expressed readiness to defend Iran during a recent event.

“We will not allow any group to speak in the name of the armed forces or the Sudanese state on matters that are not their concern,” Burhan told a mobile command unit late on Wednesday.

Burhan said the military would prevent any party from using public platforms to make statements that could damage Sudan’s foreign relations. He emphasized support for Arab Gulf states and rejected any threat to their security.

He described the wider conflict in the Middle East as “painful” and said the Sudanese people, who are facing their own war, do not encourage further conflict.

The warning comes as Islamist elements fight alongside the Sudanese army in its domestic war. Some of these groups, such as the Al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade, have faced U.S. sanctions over alleged ties to Tehran.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Saturday following joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory that reportedly killed top leadership. Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes on U.S. bases and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf.