Iran is not seeking to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) as soon as possible, since its membership in others leading regional organizations is in sum equal to WTO membership, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mahdi Safari told Sputnik.
"We are a [WTO] observer country, but with membership in BRICS, the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union], ECO [Economic Cooperation Organization] — all of that combined equals the WTO itself! Now, we do not see the need for WTO membership ... [Being a member of] these organizations, we have automatically almost become a member of the WTO at the regional level and are enjoying our benefits. This is a winning position for all parties," Safari said.
Tehran's membership in the mentioned groups satisfies almost all the country's needs at the regional and global levels, the diplomat stated, adding, however, that if Iran was offered WTO membership, it would welcome such a step and agree to join the organization.
At the same time, the diplomat stated in an interview with Sputnik that free trade with the EAEU would have a great impact on Iran-Russia trade, and create prospects for successful cooperation on finance, transit, energy, technologies and knowledge-intensive projects.
In August 2023, the 15th top-level BRICS summit in Johannesburg extended invitations to Iran, as well as Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to join the bloc. Their full membership, except for Argentina, which later abandoned its plans to join the group under the new president, took effect on January 1, 2024.