Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed on Tuesday Iran's accession to the  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the signing by Belarus of a memorandum of intent to become a member of the SCO.

"I am pleased to say that Iran is joining the SCO family as a full member. I wish all the best to [Iranian] President [Ebrahim] Raisi and the people of Iran in this regard. I also welcome the signing of the memorandum of intent for Belarus to become a member of the SCO," Modi said in his address at the SCO summit in New Delhi.

Earlier, it was reported by Reuters that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir were attending a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The agenda included a discussion of the prospects of expanding the Eurasian group's influence by including Iran and paving the way for Belarus to join. 

This summit marked Putin's first appearance in an international event since the Wagner mutiny two weeks ago.

Moreover, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran was scheduled to outline Iran's policies as he addresses the summit where the Islamic Republic’s full membership will be officially announced.

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.

Read more: Shanghai Cooperation Organization agrees to give Iran membership

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.

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

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev officially recognized Tehran as a permanent member of the SCO, which was praised and applauded by the organization's member states and attendees.