Iranian Warships Visit Sudan

The Iranian Navy destroyer "Shahid Naqdi" is pictured at Port Sudan on October 31.

Iranian news agencies report that two Iranian warships have docked at a port on Sudan’s Red Sea coast.

The October 29 arrival of the helicopter carrier “Kharg” and the destroyer “Shahid Naqdi” came less than a week after Sudan’s government accused Iranian rival Israel of carrying out an air strike on an arms factory in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

Sudan has threatened to retaliate against Israel over the incident.

The Iranian reports said commanders of the Iranian ships were expected to meet with Sudanese naval commanders.

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry on October 29 said Iran was not involved in operations at the Yarmouk arms factory, which was damaged by explosions and fire.

Israel has accused Sudan of serving as a conduit for the smuggling of weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, via Egypt.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters