TEHRAN (Iran News) – SCO Membership, Golden Chance for Iran Economy.  The Islamic Republic of Iran has tried in recent years to balance its ties with the world and it has tried to focus on relations with independent countries after the West-oriented countries acted insincerely and followed the U.S. policy of imposing unilateral and cruel sanctions on it.

Iran now is focused on joining the regional co-operations and to play more colorful role which can boost its economy. Although the country has been accused of turning to the East but in fact it has tried to improve its ties with the independent countries no matter it is eastern or western countries.

On Friday, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that Shanghai Coopaeration Organization (SCO) has approved the Islamic Republic of Iran as its new permanent member which can be a new era for Iran’s foreign trade and diplomacy.

On Thursday, President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi in his first foreign visit, leading a delegation, left Tehran for Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to attend the 2021 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which seems to be a proper opportunity to pave the ground for bolstering regional cooperation.

The 2021 SCO summit was held on September 16-17 which was playing the role of rotating chair of the SCO.

It is worth mentioning that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an effective regional and intra-state organization, which was established by leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in 2001 in a bid to enhance security, economic and cultural cooperation.

The main objective of formation of the organization has been creating balance of power in dealing with the influence of the U.S. and NATO in Asia. Despite the fact that the organization is not considered as a defense consortium, it has played an effective role in many regional and international developments.

The SCO consists of eight permanent member states, including China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India and Pakistan. Four states of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia are still observer members and six countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.

The Islamic Republic has been accepted as an observer member since 2005. Now, the bloc sent positive signals over Iran’s permanent membership for Iran after almost 16 years of waiting.

The permanent membership of Iran in the SCO is a privilege and good opportunity for both sides. The change of position will indicate Iranians’ pragmatic strategy when it comes to Tehran’s foreign policy in dealing with the East. On the other hand, the member states of the organization are producing and consuming around one fourth of energy in the world; so, they have the ability to disrupt U.S.-dominated unipolar system and create balance of power, which will add up to Iran’s political weight in the globe.

The membership will be beneficial for the Islamic Republic to expand political, economic, security, banking, energy and cultural ties with other member states of the SCO.

A Chinese media outlet in a report called Tehran’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization good news for both sides and in favor of the security of the Eurasian region.

According to the report, the process of Iran’s accession may take some time. For example, for India and Pakistan, it took almost two years to complete their formal processes. The official launch of the procedures for Iran’s accession to the SCO should be recognized as a real breakthrough since the country has spent more than 10 years waiting for full membership.

Tehran’s full membership in the body will confirm the obvious fact that Iran is a critical participant in ensuring regional stability and security, and the SCO is becoming the primary platform for this discussion. Everyone will benefit from Iran’s participation.

In recent year’s Iran’s trade with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has witnessed a boom and the economic bloc has turned into a destination for boosting foreign trade. By the permanent membership of Iran in the SCO, the country can expand its foreign trade to more countries and it will lead to a pick-up in its economy which can overcome the West’s hostile approach and sanctions on the country.

Joining to the economic or political blocs like the SCO or EAEU will strengthen Iran’s position economically or politically and will disappoint the West and especially the U.S. which are trying to corner Iran for getting concessions.

Of course membership in such blocs do not mean that the Islamic Republic of Iran has turned towards the East but it means Iran’s policy is to interact with all countries which respect it and its right and the country has chosen the policy of non-reliance on the West which usually retreats from its obligations when it is needed.

Now the SCO will become stronger by the presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran because of the country’s potential economic and political power and influence in the region and the world.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, thus, can accelerate the boost of its economy through signing such economic cooperation blocs in any part of the world and the SCO can be a turning point for this cause and the country should take advantage of this membership under the new government to bolster its ties with the SCO members either economically or politically.