Sudan Military: Iran Naval Visit Reflects Strong Ties
The visit of two Iranian naval ships to Sudan reflects strong ties between the countries, Sudan's military said on Tuesday after Khartoum denied Iranian involvement in weapons manufacturing.
Sudan's links to Iran have come under scrutiny after Khartoum accused Israel of sending four radar-evading aircraft to strike the Yarmouk military factory in the heart of the capital at midnight on October 23.
The factory compound exploded and burst into flames, and speculation followed that Iranian weapons were stored or manufactured there.
Sudan's foreign ministry on Monday denied that Iran had any involvement in the Yarmouk factory. It accused Israel of "spreading fabricated information".
On a visit to Tehran last August, President Omar al-Bashir described the relationship between Sudan and Iran as "deeply rooted".
"Two Iranian navy ships are visiting Port Sudan" until Wednesday, army spokesman Sawarmi Khaled Saad told the official SUNA news agency.
"The visit of the two ships will support strong political, security and diplomatic relations between the two states."
Saad said the port call is a chance for Sudanese naval personnel "to see advanced weapons and advanced ships," which will also be open to the public.
The Pakistani, Egyptian and Indian navies earlier visited Sudan, he added.
Iran's Press TV reported that the vessels, the helicopter carrier Kharg and destroyer Admiral Naqdi, arrived at Sudan's Red Sea port on Monday.
The ships were sent to the Djibouti area in September "to convey Iran's message of peace to the regional countries and maintain the security of shipping corridors against maritime terrorism," Press TV said.
Israel refused all comment on Khartoum's allegations about the factory blast.
But a top Israeli defense official, Amos Gilad, said last week that Sudan "serves as a route for the transfer, via Egyptian territory, of Iranian weapons to Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists."
On Saturday, a U.S.-based non-profit monitoring group said craters at the scene of the explosion were consistent with the kind of damage created by the impact of air-delivered munitions.
The Satellite Sentinel Project started by Hollywood star George Clooney said satellite imagery showed six large craters, each approximately 16 meters (52 feet) across, at the Yarmouk plant.
30 October 2012, 17:57
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Hey Sudan....you linked with Iran a while ago and lost 1/3 of your country and 3/4 of your oil.....good job.
31 October 2012, 00:45
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hey Gabby did you know that the division of Sudan was mainly planned years before the allienation of Omar al Bashir with Iran and during the early 90's when Usama ben laden was hiding in Sudan? and that the division was made for Bashir under condition? which is either lose power like the rest of the arab leaders or divide? and did you know that after that Al bashir started to be the ally of Iran due to lack of confidence in the american policy towards all arabian and african countries and their wealth? And if you think that those allied to America are winners than you should read ALOT !!! and study Alott!!! i hope you are not graduated from Law school or political science or international relations because if you are than it's a shame!
