Vahid Ghorbani wrote in the memo published on Persian website of China Radio International that since the SCO pursues regional political and security convergence, Iran begins an appropriate practice to promote regional cooperation, so the Iranian authorities would expect the organization to give importance to the strong points of the Islamic country.
Iran was an observer member in the SCO from 2005 until September 17, 2021, when it was finally accepted as a permanent member. Iran had demanded for the membership in 2006.
The SCO is a regional bloc, which is neither military nor economic; it pursues collective security arrangement, but it is not yet fully flourished.
The Islamic Republic is well aware of the organization's current situation, level, and nature; therefore, the Iranians have pragmatic expectations.
The permanent membership in the SCO will enhance coordination and cooperation between Iran and other member states, when it comes to regional and international issues.
The Islamic Republic sees the SCO as a mechanism to strengthen security in Asia as well as contain the US influence and threats.
Iran's full membership in the SCO validates the Islamic Republic's foreign policy doctrine in dealing with Asia and emerging powers in the Eastern world.
Moreover, the change of status translates into the fact that Iran along with China, Russia, and India will find better opportunity to expand mutual and multilateral cooperation at regional and international levels.
Despite the fact that the underlying objective of establishing the SCO did not include economic and trade issues, Tehran hopes that the full membership will help bolster economic and trade ties with other member states. Such a hope was echoed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during his speech at the 21st SCO Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
China and Iran have developed all-out relations in recent years. A few months ago, Beijing and Tehran signed the Iran-China 25-year comprehensive cooperation program. Now, the full membership helps both countries expand collaborations in political and security arenas.
The new status of Iran in the SCO is expected to fade Iranophobia, which has been propagated by the United States against the Islamic Republic.
1424
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