A new report by the Gatestone Institute claims that Islamist figures linked to Sudan’s SAF have publicly expressed positions aligned with Iran’s ideological and geopolitical agenda.
According to the report, videos circulating online show Muslim Brotherhood–aligned figures associated with the Sudanese military voicing rhetoric that reflects what the institute described as the “core tenets” of Iran’s hostile doctrine toward the West and its regional rivals.
In video and audio recordings released hours after the start of the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, several Islamist leaders reportedly called for support for Tehran and expressed readiness to deploy fighters to Iran in the event of a U.S.-Israeli ground invasion.
The statements were part of a broader campaign led by Islamist figures targeting Gulf Arab states while urging alignment with Iran, the report said. Among those cited were Sudanese Islamist figures including Naji Abdullah, Yasser Obeidallah, Yusuf Alam — commander of the “Al-Furqan” battalion — and Mustafa al-Naji.
The Gatestone report argued that the Muslim Brotherhood should become the “next focus” in counterterrorism efforts after the Iranian threat is addressed. It warned that the ongoing war in Sudan since April 2023 has created fertile ground for the re-emergence of Iranian-inspired ideological networks.
The institute said the Muslim Brotherhood and the Iranian regime share deep hostility toward Western countries and seek to undermine moderate Arab and Islamic states.
It added that the statements made by Brotherhood-aligned figures allied with the Sudanese SAF echoed familiar narratives promoted within Iran’s regional network — particularly hostility toward the United States, Western powers, and moderate Arab Gulf states.
According to the report, the rhetoric is framed in religious-ideological terms closely associated with what Tehran calls the “Axis of Resistance,” a loose network of movements and militias aligned with Iran’s geopolitical ambitions.
The think tank further argued that the Muslim Brotherhood poses a threat comparable to the Iranian regime, noting that the organization continues to operate despite being designated as a terrorist group in several Arab countries.
It said Brotherhood networks remain active across Western countries through affiliated organizations, research centers, and charities that promote the group’s ideology.
The institute called for stronger strategies to curb the group’s influence, including designating all branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, dismantling its financial networks, and limiting its presence in educational and religious institutions.
