Iranian President, Sudanese FM agree to revive ties
Iranian President Ibrahim Raeisi meets with Sudan's FM Ali al-Sadiq on February 5, 2024 (Mehr Photo)
February 5, 2024 (TEHRAN) – In a historic move, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq met with Iranian President Ibrahim Raeisi on Monday, marking the first high-level visit to Iran from a Sudanese official since the two nations severed diplomatic ties in 2016.
The resumption of diplomatic relations after a seven-year hiatus, announced in October 2023, stemmed from months of high-level contacts between the two countries. Both parties agreed to reopen embassies and exchange delegations to explore avenues for cooperation.
According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, Raeisi warmly welcomed Al-Sadiq and expressed Iran’s unwavering support for a strong, sovereign Sudan. He emphasized the importance of reviving relations, which he saw as an opportunity to capitalize on missed opportunities and forge new partnerships.
Highlighting the potential for enhanced political, economic, and cultural interactions between the two nations, he viewed the exchange of ambassadors and the reopening of embassies in Tehran and Khartoum as crucial steps toward revitalizing and expanding the relationship.
However, Raeisi also took aim at countries normalizing relations with Israel, stating that such actions cannot benefit Islamic nations or their people. This veiled criticism likely alludes to Sudan’s own normalization efforts with Israel in January 2021.
Foreign Minister Al-Sadiq reciprocated the positive sentiment, reaffirming Sudan’s commitment to restoring political and diplomatic relations with Iran. He expressed appreciation for Iran’s past support in international forums and underlined his country’s desire to build stronger economic and trade ties.
Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian, for his part, underscored the importance of reopening embassies and resuming diplomatic duties. He highlighted Iran’s expertise in various fields, including industry, engineering, technology, and healthcare, and expressed their willingness to share this knowledge with Sudan to foster mutual growth and development.
(ST)