Iran signed a memorandum prior to joining the SCO

Iran has signed a memorandum of commitment in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), after which the country can join the organization, reported “RIA Novosti” with reference to the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, where the SCO summit is being held.

“Today, a memorandum on Iran’s commitments to the SCO was signed. This paves the way for the country’s full membership in the SCO,” said the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to him, the document was signed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming.

The decision on Iran’s official membership in the SCO was made in September 2021 following the organization’s summit in Dushanbe, where the relevant document was signed. In July 2022 and. about. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov informedthat Iran will join the SCO this year.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also declaredthat before the SCO summit in Samarkand, a queue of countries is lining up that would like to join it as full members and observers.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was founded on June 15, 2001. leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It now also includes India, Pakistan and Tajikistan as permanent members. Iran until today had the status of an observer. In addition, Belarus and Mongolia are observers in the SCO, as well as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, de facto non-existent since August 2021.

The SCO is not a military bloc or an open regular security meeting. The objectives of the organization are the strengthening of stability and security in Eurasia, the fight against terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking, the development of economic cooperation, energy partnership, scientific and cultural interaction.