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Iran eyes BRICS next after SCO full membership

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Jul 2023 16:53

The Islamic Republic continues to implement policies that aim to bolster trade and bilateral ties with friendly countries.

Iranian flag waves in Tehran, Iran, March 31, 2020 (AP)

Iran sees that the next step after it became officially a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is finalizing its accession to BRICS, a political advisor to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Tuesday.

"Based on the doctrine of neighborhood and convergence, active membership in regional and international organizations is an important part of President Raeisi's foreign policy. Full membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been successfully finalized. The next step is [being a member of] BRICS," said Mohammad Jamshidi on Twitter after Iran was declared a full member of the SCO.

عضویت فعال در سازمان های منطقه ای و بین المللی، بخش مهمی از سیاست خارجی دولت آیت الله رئیسی مبتنی بر دکترین همسایگی و همگرایی است. عضویت کامل در شانگهای با موفقیت، نهایی شد. گام بعدی بریکس است.‌ ان شاءالله
— Mohammad Jamshidi (@MhmmdJamshidi) July 4, 2023

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an economic, political, and security alliance comprising China, Iran, India, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. SCO Observer countries include Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia, with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka holding a dialogue partner status.

Iran was officially welcomed into the organization during the bloc's 23rd virtual summit held on Tuesday, which was chaired by India, becoming the ninth member.

Earlier in June, Raisi said Iran's membership in the BRICS alliance will soon come to fruition, stressing that the Islamic Republic continues to establish better trade ties with the world's largest economies.

In September 2021, SCO members agreed to fully grant Iran membership to the organization, with Raisi lauding the move, explaining that his country can be a link to Eurasia, through a pathway tying the north to the south.

in September 2022, Iran's full accession to the organization's membership was agreed on during the Uzbekistan-held 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.