Sudan, Iran Exchange Ambassadors after 8-Year Rupture

Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)
Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)
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Sudan, Iran Exchange Ambassadors after 8-Year Rupture

Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)
Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)

The head of the Sovereignty Council, Commander of the Sudanese Army, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, received, on Sunday, the credentials of Hassan Shah, the new Iranian Ambassador in Sudan, after more than 8 years of complete estrangement between the two countries.
In press statements, the Undersecretary of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hussein Al-Amin, pointed to the “beginning of a new phase of bilateral relations,” and stressed strong ties between Sudan and Iran.
He added: “The President of the Sovereignty Council welcomed the new ambassador of Iran.”
In turn, the Iranian ambassador said that submitting his credentials “comes within the framework of the common consensus between the two countries regarding the exchange of ambassadors and the promotion of bilateral relations.” He added that he would do his “utmost to strengthen cooperation relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Sudan.”
He also noted that his country “supports national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Sudan.”
In October, Sudan announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with Iran following meetings between officials in the two countries, which lasted for months.
The new rapprochement began during talks between their foreign ministers in Azerbaijan, in July 2023, on the sidelines of the meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement.
In June 2016, the government of deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced that it was severing its relations with Iran and expelling its ambassador from Khartoum.



EU Envoy to Middle East: Our Top Priority is Preventing a Regional War

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)
TT

EU Envoy to Middle East: Our Top Priority is Preventing a Regional War

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel (AFP)

The war in the Gaza Strip is a serious obstacle to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians but the European Union's Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, Sven Koopmans, has expressed determination to push forward with efforts to achieve a two-state solution, despite opposition from the Israeli government.
In an interview with AFP, Koopmans emphasized that the current priority is to seek an end to the suffering in Gaza, while working to prevent the outbreak of a regional war that would particularly involve Lebanon, and to restart the peace process.
The secretive diplomat said his work was guided by the EU's 1980 declaration recognizing the “right to existence and to security” for Israel and “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” including “self-determination.”
But Koopmans acknowledged divisions within the 27 existing members on the Middle East strife.
He said there is currently a need to find consensus among governments with different attitudes and interests on international relations.
This is evidenced by the large gap between the positions of EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and countries such as Hungary or Czech Republic that both sought to block EU sanctions against Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Named as special representative for the peace process in 2021, Koopmans said the European Union was one of the most energetic institutions pushing for a two-state solution.
He said Brussels is one of the capitals that is witnessing behind the scenes activity aimed at getting out of the crisis in Gaza, and that all EU members agree on the need to establish a Palestinian state.
Koopmans then highlighted that the 27 countries were Israel's largest trading partner and the top aid donor to the Palestinians.
“We are the biggest political neighbor to both of them. Of course, we are not the biggest security provider, let's be honest. But we are a big and relevant actor,” the Dutch diplomat said.
He noted that Spain, Slovenia and Ireland joined non-EU member Norway in recognizing a Palestinian state this year, adding that the move could “contribute” to a solution to the conflict.