Since the Islamic Republic is scheduled to sign a memorandum of commitment for its official membership in the SCO at the 22nd summit of the organization in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, slated for September 15 and 16, a question relevant to this issue is what interests are going to have both sides.
One of the main programs of the summit is the topic of the continuation of expanding the numbers of the SCO. In the Samarkand summit, subjects such as finalizing Iran’s full membership as well as providing Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia with dialogue partnership status, deciding on initiation of accepting Belarus in the organization, and giving dialogue partnership status to Bahrain and Maldives are scheduled to be discussed.
**Reciprocal advantages
The Russian website www.gr-sily.ru wrote in an analysis that the fact that Iran will join the SCO as a full member would be beneficial for some states and some others are afraid of it.
International journalist Abbas Juma told the gr-sily website that Tehran's membership in the SCO opens up opportunities for closer cooperation in the field of regional security, including Afghanistan since this issue is on the agenda of most of the organization's countries.
According to the Russian website, Uzbekistan like other member states that are located in the Central Asia region can reach international waters through Iran’s corridor namely via Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports.
Iran’s full accession to the SCO will be beneficial for all member states of the organization not only in terms of economic and trade cooperation but also respecting security arrangements.
The website also reported that Iran’s authority in the world is increasing yearly and the big regional country is a natural bridge among Arab, Afghan, Turkish, Pakistani, Armenian, and Turkmen civilizations; therefore, it is ripe time for Iran to join the SCO.
Orientalist Musa Mustafayev told Civil Forces.ru that for Moscow, Iran's participation in the activities of the SCO is important from the point of view of limiting the US presence in the region.
Mustafayev added that joining the SCO is also necessary for Iran itself since this will ensure the security of the Islamic republic and help get rid of international isolation.
Ali Ebrahimitorkaman, an analyst, believes that after joining the SCO, Iran will be able to effectively resist the pressure of the West and prove the fallacy of the idea of itself as a country that supports terrorism.
In terms of economics, the Islamic Republic is waiting for the growth of foreign investment, because the country will provide the SCO member countries with the opportunity to have access to the southern seas and oceans, which are the shortest paths to world markets, the expert noted.
Iranian university professor and international relations expert Ali Asghar Zargar told IRNA that the SCO membership is of great importance because of the presence of India and China, which are two populated states and great economies.
Zargar pointed to the historical relationships of Iran with China, Russia, and India, noting that the trio pursues their national interests based on economic and trade ties; so, the membership and signing Iran-China strategic agreement complete Iranians’ Look East policy.
The academic further said that the accession to the SCO will strengthen Iran’s strategic position both at regional and international levels.
Iran as a country, which has played a key role in confronting terrorism and drug trafficking for more than four decades, can utilize its geographical and geostrategic situation to play the role of a bridge in the International North-South Transit Corridor.
The Islamic Republic is expected to resolve its issues with the West in particular the US in order to pave the ground for improving its economic and trade partners in the world; so, it seems that the best policy for Iran lies in creating a political and economic balance between East and West.
Edited by: Tohid Mahmoudpour
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