Is Iran’s long quest to join the China-led SCO nearly over?

Tehran’s security chief says its membership application is now down to formalities

But there is no confirmation from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

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Iran says its membership of the SCO is now a formality. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:44pm, 13 Aug 2021Updated: 10:25pm, 13 Aug 2021

Sanctions-hit Iran has claimed that it is on the verge of full membership of a China-led security grouping, with the country’s new security chief saying it is now only a question of formalities.

Diplomatic analysts said if that were the case it would amount to international recognition of Iran in the face of opposition from the United States.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary general of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Twitter on Wednesday that Iran’s years-long efforts to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation were close to realisation.

“An hour ago, in a phone call with my friend and colleague Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian National Security Council, we examined the developments in Afghanistan, Syria and the Persian Gulf,” he said.

“Fortunately, the political obstacles to Iran’s membership in the Shanghai agreement have been removed and Iran’s membership will be finalised through technical formalities.”

But a Russian statement about the meeting did not mention progress on Iran’s membership and the SCO has also not made any announcement.

Is Iran’s long quest to join the China-led SCO nearly over?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Tehran’s security chief says its membership application is now down to formalities But there is no confirmation from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Tehran’s security chief says its membership application is now down to formalities

But there is no confirmation from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation