Washington Concerned About Iranian Military Support for al-Burhan
The United States urges external parties to refrain from providing financial support to the warring parties in Sudan
The United States expressed its concern on Wednesday about reports of shipments of weapons from Iran to the Sudanese army, which is engaged in a war with the Rapid Support Forces, these concerns highlighting what the Iranian authorities are doing to enhance their influence in the region by exploiting armed conflicts in several arenas and the absence of stability and the spread of chaos.
US Ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey said Washington “is deeply concerned about external support” to the Sudanese army led by Lieutenant General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, adding “there are reports of the resumption of relations between Sudan and Iran that may include Iranian financial support to the Sudanese army, which is a matter of concern to us.”
He emphasized that the United States “has urged external parties to refrain from providing financial support to the warring parties,” without naming them, explaining that this “prolongs the fighting, prolongs the war. It also reduces the chances of finding a way out of the conflict through negotiations.”
Last month, the Rapid Support Forces posted on social media what they described as wreckage of Iranian-made “Mohajer” drones belonging to the army. Bloomberg News agency also mentioned, citing Western officials, that Iran was supplying weapons to the Sudanese army.
Under the reign of former President Omar al-Bashir, ousted in 2019, Sudan developed close relations with Iran in various economic, political, and military fields, with both parties supporting armed movements such as the Palestinian Hamas.
With the Sudanese army‘s control of areas along the Red Sea, widespread Iranian presence would raise concerns among Western powers, while Houthi rebels in Yemen target international cargo ships on the other side of the strategic maritime passage, in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Observers believe that al-Burhan‘s resort to Iranian support comes out of fear of total collapse despite the significant victories achieved by the Rapid Support Forces on several fronts, but he will face Western positions opposed to this coordination, which will have significant repercussions as the loss of relations with Western powers will weaken the army’s position.
The military support provided by Iran to factions and militias in the region, as well as the supply of drones to the Russian army in the war in Ukraine, has raised concerns in the West, the United States, and several Middle Eastern countries.
Egypt and Turkey have also supported the Sudanese army, while the Rapid Support Forces have been accused of cooperating with the Russian Wagner mercenary group, but these accusations have been categorically denied by the support forces, considered an attempt to discredit them after achieving many field victories.
Al-Burhan and his supporters, from the remnants of the al-Bashir regime and allied Islamist forces, are accused of turning Sudan into an international and regional battlefield, insisting on their commitment to realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a democratic and stable state.
Thousands have been killed since the start of the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in April of last year. Africa has become a battleground for influence between many international and regional powers such as Iran, Israel, Turkey, Russia, China, the United States, and France.
