Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Friday that Iran will be formally approved as a member of the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organisation with China, Russia, and Central Asian countries.
“At the meeting of heads of state on July 4, the full membership of Iran will be approved,” Lavrov said at the opening of an SCO center in Moscow.
The minister also stated that Belarus is applying to join, adding that next week’s virtual summit would “begin the procedure” for that membership to go ahead.
In recent months, Iran boosted its diplomacy with friends and foes alike in order to reduce its isolation and enhance its economy as well as project strength.
Iran is also seeking to be quickly accepted into another grouping that excludes Western countries — the BRICS group with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
China-headquartered SCO is a diplomatic organization with eight members, including India and Pakistan.
