The United States has warned that Sudanese Islamist groups continue to maintain links with Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and are still receiving technical support and training from Tehran.
A US State Department spokesperson said elements linked to Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood continue to receive training from Iran, as Washington weighs the regional implications of Sudan’s war and the role of outside actors in prolonging the conflict.
The US position comes as General al-Burhan’s SAF attempts to recalibrate its foreign relations and win support from Washington ahead of any possible negotiations to end the fighting.
Bloomberg, citing diplomatic and regional sources as well as a Sudanese security official, reported that the SAF has told Washington it no longer depends on Iran for weapons purchases. The move appears aimed at presenting the SAF as a reliable partner in peace efforts and at strengthening cooperation with the United States and Saudi Arabia.
According to the report, Khartoum has reduced its military purchases from Iran in recent months, even though Iranian drones and weapons helped the SAF regain positions on the battlefield during the war.
The developments underline the complexity of Sudan’s conflict, where efforts to end the war are increasingly entangled with tensions between Washington and Tehran. US officials have accused Islamist factions aligned with the army of maintaining channels with Iran, despite the SAF’s attempt to distance itself from Tehran.
Sudan restored diplomatic relations with Iran in late 2023 after a seven-year rupture. That rapprochement reportedly opened the door for the army to acquire Iranian attack drones, which were later used in military operations.
