A senior figure linked to Sudan’s Islamist movement has publicly expressed support for Iran amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel, and suggested Sudanese fighters could be sent to assist Tehran if foreign ground forces enter the country.
In a video circulating online, al-Naji Abdullah, described as a leader within Sudan’s Islamic Movement – widely regarded as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan – declared backing for Iran in the war.
“We support Iran and we say it openly from here,” Abdullah said in the video. “I say this on behalf of all the mujahideen in Sudan, with their different battalions and organizations.”
Abdullah went further, warning that Sudanese fighters could be deployed to Iran if Israel or the United States were to launch a ground invasion.
“If they enter Iran with ground forces, we are ready to send fighters,” he said.
The video shows Abdullah speaking alongside a man circulating online as Owais Ghanem, who has been associated with media coverage linked to the al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade, an Islamist militia active in Sudan.
Iran has been accused by multiple sources of supporting General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces.
According to a January 2024 report by Bloomberg, Iran has supplied the Sudanese military with drones, including the Mohajer-6 unmanned aerial vehicle. The drone, produced by Iran’s Qods Aviation Industries, is capable of carrying precision-guided munitions.
The reported transfers have raised concerns among regional observers about growing military ties between Tehran and Islamist factions aligned with the SAF.
