The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, led by Moscow and Beijing, agreed today, Friday, to Iran's future membership in this alliance, which seeks to be a counterpart to American influence, even if its concrete action remains limited.

"Today we will launch procedures for Iran's entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization," Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a video address from China, according to comments translated into English.

The Chinese president spoke at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit this week in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who were virtually participating in the summit, welcomed Iran's future membership, as well as Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in Dushanbe.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who is also in the Tajik capital, expressed his "appreciation for the hospitality of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and the Tajik people and for the excellent planning made during his tenure as head of the organization," according to IRNA news agency.

"We are pleased that the document of the permanent membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was approved in Dushanbe by the leaders of the member states," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian tweeted.

He told Iranian television that this process would be completed within a period of one to one and a half years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks via video conference during the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Reuters)

Partnership Dialogue

Iran applied to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in early 2008, with strong support from Russia, but consideration of its application has slowed due to sanctions imposed on the country by the United Nations and Washington over its nuclear program.

The Russian President affirmed his country's support for Iran's full membership in the organization, and welcomed the launch of the partnership dialogue between the organization and Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

"We have always defended the full participation of Iran in the work of our organization based on the fact that this country plays an important role in the Eurasia region and has been cooperating fruitfully with the SCO for a long time," Putin said via video link during the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

He added, "The entry of Iran will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the international standing of the organization. We also welcome the partnership dialogue with Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and Russia supports the active participation of these countries in the various fields of work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."

"Of course, we welcome the granting of dialogue partner status to Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Russia is a supporter of actively involving these countries in various aspects of the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization," the Russian president added.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001 with the participation of the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have observer status, while Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka are partner countries.