Explaining the strategic competition between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel in Sudan

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

PhD student in Regional Studies, Middle East orientation, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Iran.

10.22124/wp.2025.30004.3493

Abstract

Iran-Sudan relations began in 1989 with Tehran's support for al-Bashir, but after tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia escalated in 2016, Khartoum severed diplomatic relations with Tehran. After the Sudanese revolution and the fall of al-Bashir, Khartoum signed a peace agreement with Tel Aviv in 2020 after five decades of hostility. However, the outbreak of the Sudanese civil war halted the process of normalizing relations with Israel, and on the other hand, Iran and Sudan resumed diplomatic relations after eight years. Now, Tehran supports the Sudanese army led by al-Burhan in the Sudanese civil war, and Tel Aviv supports the Rapid Support Forces led by Hamidati. The present study, with a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on library sources, seeks to answer the question of what is the nature of the competition between Iran and Israel in Sudan? applying balance of power theory, tests the hypothesis that the competition between Iran and Israel in Sudan, as an important strategic arena in the Middle East and North Africa, is influenced by the geopolitical, geostrategic, security, and economic considerations of both actors.

Keywords

References

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World Politics
Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 53
November 2025
Pages 141-165

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