A range of malign actors have exploited the civil war to pursue greater influence in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea. Iran and Russia have separately attempted to partner with the vulnerable SAF to access Sudan’s 500-mile Red Sea coastline. The Iran war, furthermore, has only made the Red Sea vastly more important for U.S. allies and adversaries alike. To advance peace efforts, the United States and its partners must move beyond words and designate the RSF as an FTO. It is time the United States and other partners learn from past mistakes.