Lavrov: Iran will be admitted to the SCO on July 4

Full-scale admission of Iran to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is scheduled for July 4 at the Council of Heads of State of the organization. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the presentation of the National Center for Public Diplomacy of the SCO.

“At the upcoming July 4 meeting of the Council of Heads of State [организации] full membership of Iran will be formalized,” he said.

In addition, a memorandum on the obligations of Belarus to join the SCO will be signed at the same time. Lavrov noted that this step will launch the procedure for the full accession of the republic to the organization. He added that consideration of other applications “from interested countries” is also ongoing.

In July 2022 Lavrov declared about the “line” of countries that would like to join the SCO as full members and observers. Later he clarifiedthat a number of Arab and Asian countries are showing interest, Armenia and Azerbaijan have also expressed their desire.

The SCO was founded in 2001 by Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Now Iran is an observer in the organization. Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia have the same status.

In July 2022, Belarus applied for the status of a full member of the organization. Iran signed a memorandum of commitment to obtain the status of a member state of the association at the previous SCO summit in Samarkand in September 2022.

July 4 SCO summit will pass in an online format for the first time under the chairmanship of India. The SCO member states are invited to the event: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran, Belarus and Mongolia will participate as observers.