Iran joins the Shanghai Cooperation Organization led by Moscow and Beijing
An Iranian reads the "Etalaat" newspaper which headlines "Iran is a new member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization" on September 18, 2021. AFP - ATTA KENARE
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Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), led by Moscow and Beijing, approved Friday, September 17, Iran's future membership of this alliance, which is intended to be a counterpart to American influence, even if its action concrete remains limited.
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"
Today we will launch the procedures to bring Iran in as a member of the OC
S," Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a video conference speech from China, according to comments translated into English.
He was speaking at a SCO summit this week in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
The organization also includes India, Pakistan and several Central Asian countries.
Iran's future membership was greeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who were also virtually participating in the summit, as well as Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, physically present in Dushanbe.
An application for membership in 2008
“
Accept my gratitude. May the peace and blessings of God be with you,
”said
Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi
, also on site, thanking the eight members of the SCO. "
We are pleased that the document of permanent membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been approved in Dushanbe by the leaders of the member countries
", reacted in a tweet the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs , Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. He told Iranian television that the membership process would be finalized within a year to a year and a half.
Iran applied to join the SCO as early as 2008 - with strong Russian support - but its candidacy had been slowed by the sanctions imposed on the country by the United Nations and Washington for its nuclear program.
(
With
AFP)
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