Very important article. Here is more background on the Iran-Sudan nexis...
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article19801
Sudanese minister visits Iranian military airplane complex
Thursday 18 January 2007.
Jan 17, 2007 (TEHRAN) — Sudanese defence minister, has inspected today military aircraft complex in Iran’s Esfahan Province. He hailed the technological progress achieved by Iran considering it as great honor for Islamic world.
Sudan’s defence minister, Maj-Gen Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein, heading a military delegation, inspected Iran HESA aircraft manufacturing industries and got a first-hand look at the specialized, scientific achievements of the complex.
During the inspection, Hussein described as very good, the production of Iran-140 aircraft as well as design and manufacture of different kinds of helicopters.
He said the comprehensive progress Iran’s defence industries have made is a source of honour for Islamic countries.
He praised the scientific progress of the Iranian youth and said that the capability and know-how of Iranian aircraft scientists are founded on faith and Islamic commitment and that such commitment is expected to usher in a quite bright future.
The Sudanese defence minister before his departure back on Wednesday to Khartoum in a press conference saidt “I have visited Iran’s defence industry and facilities and I have noticed that Iran has gained advanced levels of technology which has made me glad.”
According to a military cooperation accord signed Wednesday between the two countries, Iran and Sudan would exchange expert delegations and expertise and promote mutual technical and educational cooperation.
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http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article19840
Iran offers to train and equip Sudan’s army
Saturday 20 January 2007.
Jan 19, 2007 (NICOSIA) — Teheran has discussed weapons sales to and training for Khartoum’s military and security forces. They said Sudan has sought to bolster its military to quell rebellion in Darfour.
“There is strong interest in acquiring Iranian missiles, RPGs, UAVs and other equipment,” an Iranian source said, referring to rocket-propelled grenades and unmanned aerial vehicles.
On Jan. 17, Sudanese Defense Minister Abdelrahim Hussein concluded a visit to Iran, Middle East Newsline reported. Hussein met his Iranian counterpart, Mustafa Najar and discussed arms procurement.
“I have visited Iran’s defense industry and facilities, and I have noticed that Iran has gained advanced levels of technology which made me glad,” Hussein said.
Since 2005, Iran has been marketing defense products to Africa and other regions. Iranian defense exports were reported as exceeding $100 million in 2006 and delivered to clients in 52 countries.
For his part, Najar said Iran and Sudan plan to bolster defense cooperation. He did not elaborate.
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http://www.sudantribune.com/imprimable.php3?id_article=19750
Iran’s speaker hails Islamic unity, ties with Sudan
Monday 15 January 2007.
Jan 14, 2007 (TEHRAN) – The speaker of the Iranian legislative assembly hailed today in a meeting with the visiting Sudanese Defence minister the Islamic unity at a time where the enemies have “focused on strategy of disintegrating the Islamic states by stirring up sectarian conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims”.
In a meeting with Sudanese Defence Minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein in Tehran, Iranian Maljlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel cited on Saturday the occupiers’ strategy in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Afghanistan.
Enemies of Islam particularly the US and Israeli regime are working hard to incite the conflict between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. “The only way to foil the satanic plot is strengthening unity among Muslim nations,” Iranian official said.
According to the official IRNA, Haddad-Adel pointed to the flourishing of Islam in Sudan as a great nation in Africa and said that enemies of Islam have targeted Sudan for being an Islamic nation.
Referring to religious affinity between Iran and Sudan, he said that fortunately, as a result of flourishing the Islamic faith among Sudanese people in the recent decades, Tehran-Khartoum ties have enjoyed a boost after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran (1979).
He said that Tehran-Khartoum Joint Economic Commission held successful meeting during the past nine days and Iranian companies implementing development projects in Sudan have made eye-catching performance.
“I hope that the existing ties will improve as a result of the efforts made by the two countries’ officials.”
Sudanese minister, for his part, appreciated Iran’s role in helping foster solidarity among Muslim nations, and said that the Islamic Revolution under leadership of the late Imam Khomeini was the greatest event of the century in the Islamic history, because it opened the way for unity between Shiite and Sunni Muslims.
Hussein referred to the West and Zionists’ propaganda against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and said that Sudan supports Iranians’ right in this respect, and the world Muslims are well aware of the West’s hue and cry against Iran’s nuclear program.
He also submitted Sudanese speaker’s invitation to Haddad-Adel to visit Sudan. Haddad Adel expressed hope that he will visit Sudan in an appropriate time.
(IRNA)
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www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article19796
Iran, Sudan agree to enhance defense cooperation
Thursday 18 January 2007.
Jan 17, 2007 (TEHRAN) — Iran and Sudan on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding for expansion of mutual defence cooperation.
Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar and his Sudanese counterpart Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein signed the agreement based on the common will of senior Iranian and Sudanese political officials for promotion of bilateral relations, stabilization of peace and calm in the region and mutual understanding on regional developments.
Based on the agreement, signed at the end of the second round of talks between the two ministers, Iran and Sudan would exchange expert delegations and expertise and promote mutual technical and educational cooperation.
During his four-day visit to Tehran, the Sudanese defence minister held two rounds of talks with his Iranian counterpart and conferred with Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel and Commander of the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi on defence-related issues.
He also inspected subsidiaries of Iran’s auto manufacturing giant Iran Khodro.
(IRNA)