Officials from Iran and Sudan weighed plans for the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries after eight years.

According to The Iran Project,Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and acting foreign minister of Sudan, Ali Al-Sadiq Ali, held a meeting on the sidelines of the 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Uganda’s Kampala on Saturday.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the severance of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2016 under foreign pressures, they voiced their respective governments’ readiness to restore relations.

Mokhber highlighted Iran and Sudan’s common stances in support of Palestine, calling for intensified efforts by Muslim nations to force the Zionist regime to stop its crimes against Gaza.

He also denounced foreign parties, including the Israeli regime, for inciting tensions in Sudan, saying Iran supports the Sudanese people and legitimate government in their efforts to establish peace and stability in their country.

Sudan, which has been gripped by nine months of civil war, cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 following the storming of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran.

Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to resume ties in March 2023 under a deal negotiated by China, raising expectations that Tehran and other Arab countries would fully re-establish diplomatic relations.