Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Iran’s Accession to SCO

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) officially welcomed Iran as a new member of the Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance, at its 21st summit in Dushanbe on Friday.

In a statement issued on Friday night, the Iranian Foreign Ministry expounded on the process of the country’s accession to the SCO.

What follows is the text of the statement, released by the Foreign Ministry:

“As a result of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s constantly pursuing the matter at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), these efforts have gathered pace since the beginning of the tenure of the 13th administration. Finally, when Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi took part in the 21st SCO summit in the city of Dushanbe in Tajikistan, all 8 main members of the SCO unanimously announced their agreement to our country’s request for permanent membership in this organization. Accordingly, the legal, technical and administrative procedure of the membership began.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its pleasure over this joyful accomplishment for the country while highlighting its commitment to tap into all its specialized potential to make the necessary coordination with other relevant bodies as well as the SCO’s Secretariat to make the legal and administrative procedure of the membership run its course in the shortest possible time.

The acceptance of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s request for membership in the SCO is a key step and plays a positive role in the promotion of our country’s cooperation and relations with the SCO member states in all bilateral, regional and international areas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its gratitude to all SCO members for having agreed to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s membership and will employ an active diplomacy to boost its relations with the diplomatic apparatuses of the SCO member states within the framework of the organization.”