During the 23rd summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held virtually on 4 July, 2023, Iran was elected as a full member of the organisation.
Iran had been an observer member since 2005 and has now advanced to the status of a main member after 16 years.
At the 21st summit meeting in 2021, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, eight member countries of the SCO approved Iran’s membership, making it the ninth member of the organization.
The technical process and obligations for Iran’s acceptance as a main member were subsequently approved at the 22nd summit meeting in 2022, which took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
This development marks a significant milestone for Iran’s involvement in the SCO, granting the country greater participation and influence within the organization’s activities.
