Iran’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be formalized at the upcoming meeting of the SCO heads of state, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday during a presentation of the SCO People's Diplomacy Center.
In addition, Lavrov pointed out that "an increasing number of states are striving to establish ties with the SCO", the organization also welcomes new dialogue partners.
"From now on, the SCO space, taking into account both new members and dialogue partner states, stretches from Europe and the Middle East to South and Southeast Asia," he stressed. "Of course, consideration of additional applications from interested countries continues," concluded the head of the Russian diplomatic department.
Earlier, a special representative of the President of Russia for SCO affairs Bakhtiyor Khakimov said that Iran's admission to the SCO as a full participant will be a key decision at the SCO summit, which is scheduled for July 4 and will be hosted by India.
As previously reported by the Indian Foreign Ministry, the meeting of the SCO leaders will be held in a virtual format.