Planes landing at Port Sudan Airport aren’t only carrying passengers—they’re reportedly unloading shipments of drones and missiles.
After years of civil war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, Iran has seized an opportunity. Since renewing diplomatic ties with Khartoum in 2023, Tehran has supplied weapons and experts to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s forces. For Burhan, this revived alliance offered vital lifeline support. For Tehran, it opened access to the Red Sea and Africa—an area of growing strategic importance.
Reports indicate that Iranian Mohajer drones and anti-tank missiles have arrived through Port Sudan, helping Sudan’s army push back RSF advances. Analysts warn Sudan could become a new logistical base for Iran and its proxy, the Houthis, who recently attacked ships near Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port.
By using Sudan’s Red Sea coast, Iran could ease pressure on the Houthis in Yemen and gain another launch point for drone or boat attacks on maritime traffic. This would strengthen Iran’s grip on the Bab el-Mandeb strait—a vital global shipping route—heightening tensions across the region.