The foreign ministry spokesperson, Youssef al-Kordofani, said in statements on Tuesday that the centers have exceeded their mandate and “It became necessary to take an official action against this center, which has prompted the closure decision.”
He also confirmed that the regime’s charge d’affaires was summonsed on Monday and was informed that the Iranian regime’s cultural attaché and the staff at the center have to leave the country within 72 hours.
The first cultural cenetr of the Iranian regime was opened in 1988 during the era of the former prime minister, al-Sadiq al-Mahdi.
Despite the official statement by the Sudanese foreign ministry, the Iranian regime on Wednesday denied its cultural centers in Sudan have been closed on the orders of Khartoum, saying Sudanese authorities would not want to damage relations.
“The embassy and the cultural and economic centers of Iran and Sudan are continuing with their normal activities in the two countries,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, quoted by Fars news agency.
Khartoum has maintained generally close relations with the Iranian regime which has been a significant arms supplier to Sudan.
The Saudis, along with other Gulf states, have been highly critical of Sudan’s close relationship with the Iranian regime.