Iran formally joins Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Iran has officially become the ninth member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), TASS reports, citing the SCO secretariat.

The decision was made following a summit of the organisation held earlier today via video conference. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that the admission will offer the country conditions to boost its security, ensure sovereignty and sustainable development of the national economy.

In September 2022, the SCO members signed a memorandum on Iran’s commitments aimed at joining the organisation at the summit in Samarkand. In January 2023, the Iranian parliament adopted the memorandum bill to secure the status of an SCO member, completing all legal formalities to join the organisation.

In 2005, Iran became an SCO observer state. The country’s admission process to the organisation began in 2021.