TEHRAN – Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Yusuf Ahmed al-Sharif has arrived in Tehran for a two-day visit aimed at deepening bilateral relations and addressing regional challenges.
The trip marks the first high level of diplomatic engagement as both countries recovered in October 2023, following a seven-year break. It marks a new partnership amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
On Monday, Al Sharif met with Iranian parliament president Mohammad Bagh Galibahu, who highlighted Tehran’s commitment to Sudan’s stability.
“The Islamic Republic emphasizes the establishment of stability in Sudan, the preservation of its territorial integrity and the formation of a unified government,” Garribach said, expressing his hopes for a prompt resolution to the conflict.
He also highlights Iran’s enthusiasm to expand economic and trade ties, calling the visit a “critical step” to strengthen cooperation.
Al-Sharif reciprocates emotions and thanks Iran during Sudan’s “tough two years of hardship, characterized by international conspiracy to fragment the country and plunder its resources.”
He said that over 2 million Sudanese fled as refugees, but tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, were killed in the battle.
Al Sharif outlined Sudan’s post-conflict roadmap and highlighted the need for Sudan’s internal dialogue to define the future of the country.
He praised Iran’s election experience and expressed his interest in fostering parliamentary relations as Sudan’s legislative bodies recover.
“We hope that Iran will play a role in rebuilding our country after the war,” he said, inviting Iran’s technical and economic delegations to support its recovery efforts.
Galibah confirmed Iran’s preparations to strengthen political and economic cooperation, noting that after the Sudanese government stabilizes, parliamentary friendship groups will be revitalized.
Al Sharif also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut on Monday. He is scheduled to hold another meeting with President Masudo Pezeschkian before leaving the country.
His trip follows a previous engagement by Hussein Awad, former Sudanian foreign minister, who attended the memorial of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024.
Iran and Sudan are once closed allies, and their relationships became sour when Khartoum severed solidarity with Saudi Arabia after the incident at the Saudi embassy in Tehran in 2016.
However, the 2023 Saudi-Iran settlement, mediated by China, paved the way for Sudan to remarry Tehran.
Under the leadership of Abdel Fatta al-Burhan, the Sudanese government recently strengthened its ties with Russia. Meanwhile, the UAE has accused them of providing substantial support and weapons to the rapid support force (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dhagaro, also known as Hemedi.
According to UN estimates, a 15-month conflict between the Transitional Sovereign Council and the RSF caused more than 150,000 deaths, evacuating 11 million people and pushing Sudan to the brink of hunger .