The Islamic Republic of Iran was accepted as a permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the 21st SCO Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Friday.
Iran has so far been named as an observer member of the Organization since 2005.
The spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed the approval of the Islamic Republic’s permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), saying it will play a leading role in enhancing Tehran’s ties with neighboring and Asian countries.
In a post on his official Twitter account on Friday, Saeed Khatibzadeh said he “warmly welcome(s) the decision of the SCO to approve #Iran's full membership.”
He added that the endorsement would be “a major step toward enhanced ties with neighbors & an important impetus for our Asia-centered foreign policy.”
The Iranian spokesperson emphasized that the country would continue its efforts to “build on indigenous initiatives for the good of the region.”
Iran Foreign Ministry to pursue active diplomacy in ties with SCO states
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry thanked all the SCO members for their decision to accept the Islamic Republic’s full membership and vowed to pursue an “active diplomacy” to improve relations with the members.
“Accepting the Islamic Republic of Iran’s request for its membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an important step and will play a positive role in developing our country's cooperation and relations with the members of this organization in all bilateral, regional and international dimensions,” the ministry said.
In a tweet, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also welcomed the SCO decision, saying it has an "important impact on the process of Iran’s comprehensive cooperation in line with its neighborhood and Asia-centered policy.”
In another tweet, the Iranian foreign minister said he held talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on the sidelines of the SCO summit and thanked President Vladimir Putin’s support for Iran’s permanent membership to the organization.
He added that they agreed on the statement about the situation in Afghanistan, which was issued by foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan.