Iran and Sudan to develop bilateral relations

October 23, 2011 (LONDON) – “Common Islamic values” are the foundations on which Khartoum and Tehran will develop their relationship, according to the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iranian state media reported on meetings between Ahmadinejad and Sudan’s new ambassador to Iran, Mir-Ghani Ababakr, Ivory Coast’s ambassador, Abdoullah Cissé and India’s Shri Srivastava on 22 October.

This was opportune stage for Ahmadinejad’s infamous anti-imperialist rhetoric. He described African nations which “have been oppressed for long years under the rule of tyrant colonial powers and need the support of independent states.”

In a meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, in September, Ababakr discussed unspecified major development projects and the strengthening of economic ties.

The president of Sudan, Omer al-Bashir also met Ahmadinejad in Tehran in June. The latter paid a visit to Sudan last September to bolster political and economic relations.

Bashir announced in October that Sudan would adopt an entirely Islamic constitution and strengthen Islamic law. This announcement came three months after the secession of South Sudan – a state with a far lower concentration of Muslims than the North.

Ahmadinejad said that Iran and Sudan’s improved relations “will deter the divisive plots of arrogant powers.”

The two countries are subjected to US economic sanctions and on its list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism.

(ST)