By AFP

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Sudan and Iran agreed on Monday to restore their diplomatic ties seven years after they were severed, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said.

"The two countries have decided to resume diplomatic relations... following high-level contacts in recent months," the ministry said in a statement.

"They agreed to take the necessary steps to reopen their embassies in the near future and to exchange official delegations", the statement added.

Iran's ISNA news agency also reported the agreement.

"The two governments agreed to develop friendly relations... based on mutual respect for sovereignty, equality, common interests and peaceful coexistence," ISNA said.

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Sudan and Iran had also agreed to "take the necessary measures to open the embassies" and "exchange of official delegations to explore ways to expand cooperation", it added.

Sudan broke off relations with Iran in 2016, in a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia after its embassy in Tehran was attacked following the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric in the kingdom.

Several Saudi allies in the region also cut ties with Iran at the time.

In March, however, Riyadh and Tehran announced the restoration of their relations following an agreement brokered by China.

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Iran has since moved to cement or restore relations with neighbouring Arab countries.

Sudan has been at war since April 15, when fighting erupted between two rival generals, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).