Ambassador to China Ali Asghar Khaji said on Sunday there is no obstacle to Iran’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Iran has officially applied for membership in SCO while it is present in the organization as an observer state, Khaji noted, IRIB news reported.
Describing Russia, China, India and Pakistan as important members of the SCO, he said Iran faces no restriction in becoming a permanent member of the Eurasian political, economic and security organization. Khaji noted that the economic sanctions cannot stop Iran from having a permanent seat at the SCO and that the Islamic Republic should use the current opportunity to improve ties with SCO member states. His remarks came as the Chinese port city of Qingdao was hosting the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, June 9-10.
The SCO was formed in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to curb extremism in the region and enhance border security. India and Pakistan joined the bloc last year.
