Iran Soon Joins China And Russia In SCO, President Putin: We Are Very Happy

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: Kremlin.ru/TASS)

JAKARTA - Russia is excited that Iran will soon join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the SCO summit on Thursday.

"As we agree with you, we have done everything so that Iran becomes a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization," President Putin told President Raisi at a meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, citing TASS September 15.

"Our scientists in this organization have supported your app, all that remains is just one final formality. It is a formality, and Iran joins this serious, big and authoritative international organization," said President Putin.

"And we are very happy about this," President Putin stressed.

He added that in many international problems, Moscow and Tehran's stance is almost the same or coinciding.

"Relationships between regions are developing. We are actively cooperating in the international arena and at many (dots) our positions are close, or, as diplomats say, to coincide," he said.

On that occasion, President Putin recalled Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's warm welcome during his recent visit to Tehran.

"Thanks to his support, many projects are moving forward. We are interested in further support. I ask you to convey my best wishes to him," he told President Raisi.

Meanwhile, citing Reuters, President Raisi underlined his country's desire to improve relations with Russia.

"Iran is determined to improve its relationship with Russia, from the economic sector to aerospace and politics," said President Raisi, according to Iranian state media.

"Cooperation between Tehran and Moscow can significantly neutralize the restrictions imposed on our country by US sanctions," he said.

Separately, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Iran had signed a memorandum of obligation to join SCO.

"By signing a full SCO membership document, Iran has now entered a new chapter of various economic, commercial, transit and energy cooperation," Hossein Amirabdollahian wrote on his Instagram page.

It is known, founded in 2001, currently SCO members include India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia are observer countries. Meanwhile, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka are Partner countries.

In addition to completing Iran's acceptance, the current SCO summit in Samarkand is expected to provide dialogue partners with Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.