Ex-Diplomat: Iran's Full Membership in SCO Hinges on Resolution of Bilateral Issues

Resolution of bilateral issues with Central Asian countries, particularly Tajikistan, can help ease Iran’s membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization, says a former diplomat, who believes that intensified diplomatic efforts are needed to accomplish this goal.   
In a recent interview with the Iranian Diplomacy website, Mohammad Reza Forqani said President Hassan Rouhani's participation in two important regional summits was a "positive" development that could change Tehran's relations with Central Asian states for the better.
Rouhani recently attended the SCO summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and a summit of a 27-member regional grouping called the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.