Lifting of sanctions paves way for Iran’s full-scale accession to SCO - Russian foreign ministry

MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Tehran applied for full-fledged membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) back in 2008, the path for this is open now that the sanctions have been lifted, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a press briefing on Thursday. "Iran has been actively involved in the activities of the SCO as an observer since 2005," the diplomat said. "Tehran applied for a full membership in the SCO in 2008. However, the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council were an obstacle for this, which ran counter to the SCO Charter (the existence of sanctions against Iran - TASS)." In connection with the beginning of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - and the cancellation of international sanctions against Iran is a step to launch this process - the way is open for beginning the practical consideration of Tehran’s SCO membership bid," the diplomat said. "Russia has always supported Iran’s full-fledged involvement in cooperation with both the SCO member-countries and with this organization, with all the "SCO family" and is ready to start this process," Zakharova added. Read more