Sudan the pivot of Iran-Africa relations: defense minister

Sudan is the pivot of Iran-Africa relations, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said in Khartoum on Wednesday during his four-day official visit to Sudan.

Gen. Najjar and his Sudanese counterpart Gen. Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein have held talks on bilateral, regional and international issues of interest.

 

Noting that expanding ties with African nations is high on Iran’s foreign policy agenda, Gen. Najjar said that religious and cultural affinities between the two countries and a common understanding of major regional and global issues significantly contribute to the expansion of Iran-Sudan relations.

 

 

The Iranian defense minister also expressed hope that his visit would help expand the two countries’ relations in the fields of defense technology and training.

 

Gen. Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein called Najjar’s visit to Sudan a “turning point” in Iran-Sudan defense ties, saying, “Sudan is ready to expand ties with Iran in all fields, including the field of defense.”

 

Pointing to Iran’s constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the region and strengthening unity among Islamic nations, the Sudanese defense minister appreciated Iran’s adherence to its principal stances on regional and global issues and also its support of Sudan in the face of pressures from bullying powers.

 

Condemning the anti-Iranian UN Resolution 1803, he supported Iran’s inalienable right to a peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

 

“Nuclear energy is only a pretext, they have targeted Islam,” Gen. Hussein said.

 

Sudanese Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ahmad Al Jili also met with the Iranian defense minister.

 

In the meeting, Gen. Najjar said that Iran-Sudan defense ties are “very satisfactory,” adding that Iran is ready to transfer its defense experiences to the Muslim, independent and friendly country of Sudan.

 

Gen. Ahmad Al Jili also stated the Sudanese Armed Forces are interested to avail themselves of Iran’s valuable experiences.

 

“Iran enjoys the special respect of the Sudanese nation because it defends the whole Islamic world, and Sudan is proud of Iran’s strength and principled stance” toward major regional and international issues.