Iranian, Sudanese FMs Discuss "Resumption of Ties" after Seven-Year Hiatus

July 6, 2023

1 min read

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Sudan's Ali al-Sadiq Ali on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Baku

The Iranian foreign minister says he held talks with his Sudanese counterpart in the Azerbaijani capital, the first such meeting since diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed seven years ago.

"On the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement [NAM] meeting, our delegation met with the Sudanese foreign minister and discussed how to imminently resume diplomatic ties between Khartoum and Tehran," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted on July 6.

در حاشیه اجلاس‌ جنبش‌عدم‌تعهد با برادرم علی الصادق علی، سرپرست وزارت امور‌خارجه #سودان دیدار و نحوه از سرگیری قریب‌الوقوع مناسبات دیپلماتیک خارطوم‌ و‌ تهران را بررسی کردیم. در جریان آخرین وضعیت تحولات داخلی سودان قرار گرفتم. تهران بر راه‌حل‌سیاسی و دوری از جنگ تاکید دارد. pic.twitter.com/PES2WdbNdq
— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) July 6, 2023

According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, the talks between Amir-Abdollahian and Sudan's Ali al-Sadiq Ali on the sidelines of the NAM ministerial meeting in Baku “were directed at resolving misunderstandings between the two countries and strengthening the political and economic relations between Tehran and Khartoum."

Sudan cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters during a dispute over the execution of a Shia cleric in Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia.

Tehran and Riyadh agreed to resume relations in March under a deal brokered by China, raising expectations that Iran would fully re-establish diplomatic relations with other Arab countries.

Iran has intensified its diplomacy with friends and foes alike in recent months, seeking to reduce its isolation, improve its economy and project strength.

On July 4, the Islamic Republic gained full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Eurasian security and political grouping led by China and Russia.

The Islamic Republic is also hoping to be quickly accepted into the BRICS, another grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.