Iran’s 23rd
Fleet warships, IRIS Jamaran (76), a guided missile frigate and IRIS Bushehr (422),
a replenishment ship, docked in Port Sudan today, making the second port call
by the Iranian navy in Sudan in five days. A Sudanese navy spokesman said the
visit was a normal port call. In a welcoming ceremony, Rear Admiral Abdullah
al-Matri of Sudan called for “further expansion of military ties between Iran
and Sudan.” (Fars News Agency/Press TV, 8 December)
Israel and the GCC are following the visit closely. Israel has expressed concerns of Iranian arms shipment to militant groups in Gaza through Sudan.
Israel and the GCC are following the visit closely. Israel has expressed concerns of Iranian arms shipment to militant groups in Gaza through Sudan.
The GCC, particularly the
Saudis, have their own concerns of closer ties between Tehran and Khartoum.
After South Sudan broke away to become independent last year, Sudan lost three
quarters of its oil production and began seeking bolstering its ties with Saudi
Arabia and other Arab states in the Persian Gulf. Gulf states are now among
the biggest investors in the country and have just funded a large sugar plant
and Sudan's only shopping mall. But the
close ties with Tehran, manifested today by Iranian navy’s port call, could make
it difficult for Khartoum to expand its relations with the Gulf Arab
states.
File photo: Guided Missile
Frigate IRIR Jamaran (76) [Hamed Jafarnejad/Fars News Agency]
