Iran’s Moves in Sudan: A Clear and Present Danger to Red Sea Stability

Since resuming diplomatic ties with Sudan in October 2023, Iran has ramped up its military support for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), supplying advanced drones—like the Mohajer-6 and Ababil models—alongside ground-control systems and artillery. This aid has fueled SAF’s offensives in key regions, including Khartoum and Darfur. These weapons arrived via covert cargo flights—flights that took place between Tehran and Port Sudan, using sanctioned Iranian planes. Some flights disabled their tracking systems mid-flight, indicating deliberate obfuscation.

Iran’s moves signify more than just arms support. By embedding itself in Sudan’s conflict, Tehran positions itself to influence Red Sea maritime security—a vital global shipping route.

 Partnership with Iran Means Loss of Sovereignty

The Port Sudan Authority’s cooperation with Iran is particularly troubling. Iran apparently proposed establishing a naval base—or a dual-use commercial-military port—on Sudan’s Red Sea coast in exchange for continued military support. Sudanese military leaders rebuffed these offers, citing backlash risk from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Western powers, and Israel.

Nonetheless, the acceptance of drone shipments and military expertise, especially within the Port Sudan region, compromises Sudan’s sovereignty—tying its strategic decisions to Iranian geopolitical designs.

Arming an Iranian Proxy

Iran’s drone deliveries have empowered SAF with lethal aerial capabilities—shaping the conflict dynamics in Sudan. Mohajer-6 drones have supported key offensives, while Iranian intelligence and training bolstered SAF’s operational capacity.

Meanwhile, Iran’s involvement in manufacturing via Sudan’s military industrial facilities is more structural: the Yarmouk Military Industrial Complex in Khartoum, 35% owned by Iran and reportedly staffed by IRGC personnel, underscores a deeper entrenchment of Iranian influence.

These elements transform SAF—and particularly portions tied to Port Sudan—into a proxy for Iran’s regional ambitions.

Why immediate action is essential

• Red Sea security at stake: Iran-backed logistics could enable expanded maritime reach, potentially disrupting shipping and threatening global trade.
• Precedent for conflict escalation: Iran has already demonstrated its ability to disrupt Red Sea commerce via proxies like the Houthis in Yemen.
• Global chokepoint: The Red Sea handles a significant portion of world maritime traffic. Any instability here reverberates globally.

Responsibility of the Port Sudan Authority

The Port Sudan Authority must answer for facilitating Iran’s strategic ambitions. Its complicity—whether tacit or active—threatens not just Sudan’s internal cohesion but also regional stability. Accountability must be enforced through:

• International pressure and sanctions
• Oversight of Port Sudan’s maritime governance
• Support for alternatives that restore Port Sudan as a neutral, sovereign entity

Iran’s activities in Sudan—from drone transfers to ambitions for naval infrastructure—pose a tangible threat to Red Sea security, Sudanese sovereignty, and regional stability. The partnership, particularly through the Port Sudan region, risks turning the country into a proxy battlefront.

Western nations and Israel must act now: diplomatically, militarily, and economically, to prevent Iran from expanding its reach. The international community cannot afford a power vacuum in Sudan; safeguarding Red Sea routes is not only a regional imperative but a global one.