Secret Meetings in Port Sudan: Iranian delegation discusses military cooperation with Al Burhan
Informed sources revealed the arrival of an Iranian diplomatic delegation in Port Sudan, eastern Sudan, on an unannounced visit on Sunday. During the visit, the delegation met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, as well as leaders associated with the Islamic Movement.
According to the sources, the delegation arrived in two groups via two Asian countries and held a closed meeting Sunday evening at the home of an Islamist leader, maintaining a state of tight security. The meeting was attended by the Iranian chargé d’affaires in Sudan, Mohammad Hassan Khairi, and several political figures, including Ahmed Haroun.
The delegation conveyed a message from the Iranian leadership commending Sudan’s stance during the recent escalation related to the American and Israeli attacks on Iran. Furthermore, the message emphasized Tehran’s desire to expand its strategic partnership with the Port Sudan authorities, including reactivating previously signed military cooperation agreements.
In addition, sources reported that the talks addressed accelerating the establishment of an Iranian Naval Base on the Red Sea coast, based on previous understandings dating back to (February 2025) between the two countries’ foreign ministers. The aforementioned understandings included a proposal to establish a military facility in the Oseif area of the Red Sea state.
The two sides further discussed the project’s critical importance in relation to reinforcing regional security and securing maritime shipping lanes amidst the escalating tensions, with a shared inclination to expand military cooperation and sign additional agreements in the coming period.
In a related context, the sources indicated an agreement to revisit the issue of the establishment of a Russian Base in Port Sudan. This project, which has been under negotiation for years, is expected to respond to Moscow’s Naval and Military requirements, including the deployment of troops and warships, in exchange for providing military and technical support to the Sudanese Armed Forces.
According to the same sources, Islamist leaders within the Port Sudan Authorities believe that resolving the internal conflict could potentially pave the way for developing these partnerships, thereby strengthening the strategic presence of both Iran and Russia in the Red Sea. Nevertheless, such realities invite implications in relation to monitoring international maritime traffic and expanding intelligence capabilities in the region.
