On Tuesday, July 6, 2023, Iran was officially chosen as a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, led by China and Russia.
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India and the rotating chair of this collective agreement, expressed his support for this development, stating that Iran has been selected as the ninth member of this organization.
Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, also welcomed Iran’s membership, saying, “It is our duty to assist Iran in actively participating in all areas of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”
International media have highlighted the Islamic Republic’s years-long effort to join this organization, primarily for security reasons, which was established in 2001 with the participation of China, Russia, and Central Asian countries, along with India and Pakistan, to prevent Western and NATO influence. However, it is still unclear what significant impact Iran’s membership in Shanghai will have on this matter.
For years, Iran has been striving to join this predominantly security-oriented institution, formed to counter Western and NATO influence in 2001, with the participation of China, Russia, and Middle Eastern countries, along with India and Pakistan.
