Lavrov: Iran to Become a Member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization; Expert: Islamic Republic Seeks 'Protective Umbrella'

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, stated on Friday, June 30, that Iran's full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be officially confirmed at the upcoming meeting on Tuesday, July 4. Last week, Bakhtiar Hakimov, the Russian presidential representative for this organization, mentioned that the Islamic Republic of Iran has completed the necessary steps for full membership and will be accepted as a full member at the July 4 conference. The benefits of membership in the SCO for Iran Jason Brodsky, the policy director at the United Against a Nuclear Iran organization, told VOA's Persian section on Friday, "Iran's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is beneficial for the Islamic Republic as it provides another diplomatic platform to enhance its position on the international stage." According to Brodsky, Iran's accession to this organization aligns with the 'Look to the East' policy of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and deepens relations with Russia and China. Some critics point to the Islamic Republic's refusal to publish documents of long-term cooperation agreements with China and Russia as a sign of giving excessive concessions to these two countries. Mohammad Qaeedi, an international relations lecturer at George Washington University, noted the emergence of new powers like China and the organizations that represent the interests of these emerging powers, stating, "Iran is trying to leverage the capacities of these organizations to advance its security and economic interests." He mentioned that the Islamic Republic hopes to mitigate the impact of sanctions through membership in this organization, replace Western partners with regional ones, benefit from the protective umbrella of Russia and China, and increase its bargaining power against Saudi Arabia and Turkey, both of which also seek to join the organization. Regarding the willingness of Russia and China to accept Iran and Saudi Arabia into the SCO, Qaeedi stated that the organization is strengthened "demographically and geographically, especially in the energy sector." He added that this would enhance the power of China and Russia against the United States and Europe, and considering China's dependence on oil from Iran and Saudi Arabia, it provides a platform for the peaceful resolution of disputes between them. According to Jason Brodsky, the willingness of Russia and China to include countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia in the SCO is part of their efforts to create a rift in the network of U.S. allies and partners worldwide. He added that by joining this organization, the Islamic Republic would strengthen an anti-Western bloc, and including Saudi Arabia in it would be an attempt to "reduce Washington's leverage and influence over Riyadh." Washington has previously stated that China's efforts to exert influence globally will not change U.S. policy towards the Middle East. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established in 2001, is a transcontinental alliance focused on political, economic, and security cooperation. This organization encompasses nearly 40% of the world's population and accounts for 28% of global GDP. Current members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan, while Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia are present as "observer members" in this organization.