Will al-Burhan deliver the shores of the Red Sea to Iran?
American media reports have revealed Iranian efforts to establish a foothold in Sudan, with the aim of tightening its grip on the Red Sea and new waterways and shipping routes, and supporting and backing Houthi militias.
Last week, American news reports disclosed Iran’s intervention in the ongoing war in Sudan, nearing its first year, in favor of one of the warring parties, the Sudanese army led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, with support and backing from the Islamic movement (the Muslim Brotherhood).
The American agency “Bloomberg” reported, citing Western officials, that Iran has supplied the Sudanese army with “Mohajer-6” drones qualified for reconnaissance and explosives transport missions, a move that raised fears of Iran exploiting the war in Sudan to expand its influence in the Red Sea, where Sudan owns 670 km of coastline. Observers see this as an attempt by al-Burhan to obtain Iranian military support at any cost and in exchange for any concessions he offers to Tehran in order to confront the collapse of army forces, facing the Rapid Support Forces in several southern states, where he relies on drone warfare to change the equation on the ground and halt the advance of his opponent’s forces.
Sudanese media reports have pointed to the Muslim Brotherhood‘s influence behind al-Burhan‘s push towards Iran, as the group that managed the rule in Sudan under former President Omar al-Bashir‘s regime for three decades maintained good relations with Tehran during that period. These reports confirm that the group still manages affairs within the army, according to Yemen News website.
Many observers have indicated that the Muslim Brotherhood was a major reason for the convergence between Iran and al-Burhan, and the group is the one leading negotiations to obtain military aid, with the exchange being Tehran’s control over the Red Sea coast, exacerbating threats to maritime navigation.
