The governments of Iran and Sudan have agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen each country’s embassies in both capitals, according to a joint statement released by the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Ministry in Tehran.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Sudan agreed to expand friendly ties based on mutual respect for their national sovereignty, equality, mutual interests and peaceful coexistence, the statement said.

The parties agreed to deepen their relations in various fields serving the interests of both nations and to promote stability in the region, always according to the joint statement of Tehran and Khartoum.

Bilateral relations had frozen in 2015, when Sudan, still ruled by dictator Omar al-Bashir, had expressed its support for Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen, in which it was involved by participating in the military alliance. The alliance intervened in March of that year against the Shia Houthi rebels, who are close to Iran.

Last March, Iran and Saudi Arabia announced their intention to restore diplomatic relations, mediated by China. Riyadh severed bilateral ties in 2016 when protesters attacked the Sunni kingdom’s embassy in Tehran.

Source: APA MPA

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