Sudan, Iran deny alleged naval base plans on Red Sea coast

March 4, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Both Sudan and Iran have strongly refuted recent claims that Iran sought to establish a naval base on the Red Sea coast of Sudan in exchange for providing weapons and drones.

The initial report, published by The Wall Street Journal on February 4, 2024, cited an unnamed Sudanese intelligence advisor who claimed Sudan rejected the proposal out of concerns about straining relations with the United States and Israel.

However, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq, told the Russian Sputnik during a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey on March 4th, that “Sudan has received no requests from Iran regarding a Red Sea naval base.” He further stressed, “The report is false. Iran never proposed a base, and the issue was never raised during my recent visit.”

Echoing this stance, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani dismissed the claim as “politically motivated” and firmly asserted that Iran had never made such a request.

Further muddying the waters, Sudanese military spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah also refuted the story, highlighting its factual inaccuracies. He stated the report was “absolutely untrue” and based on false information, including an incorrect name for an alleged Sudanese official.

These denials come amidst ongoing efforts to repair diplomatic relations between Sudan and Iran. The two countries recently agreed to accelerate the process of reopening embassies after a seven-year diplomatic rift.