Iran hopes for Russia’s support in its striving for SCO membership

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Iran counts on Russia’s support for its striving to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full-fledged member, the chairman of the national security and foreign policy commission of the Iranian parliament, Alaeddin Boroujerdi said at a meeting with Russian State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin in Moscow on Monday. "We do expect that Russia will support Iran’s application for joining the SCO in the capacity of a full-fledged member. This support will help our president participate in the forthcoming SCO summit," he said. Boroujerdi thanked Russia for backing Iran’s efforts to achieve a settlement over its nuclear program. "We hope that the settlement will have a favorable effect on bilateral relations and the situation in the region in general," he said. The Shanghai Cooperation organization was established in 2001. At present its members are Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan and Belarus are present in the capacity of observers. The SCO summit in Bashkortostan’s capital Ufa is expected to produce a comprehensive program for the organization’s development extending till 2025. Read more