Iran signs memorandum of commitments to join SCO

Iran hails signing a memorandum of commitments to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), thus entering a "new phase" of interaction with the body.

According to Press TV, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announced signing the document in a tweet on Wednesday.

The top diplomat is accompanying President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi on a visit to the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, which is slated to host a summit of the SCO.

"Tonight, in the historical city of Samarkand, I signed the memorandum of commitments of Iran's permanent membership at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with the [body's] secretary-general," Amir-Abdollahian wrote in the tweet.

"Now, we have entered a new stage of diverse economic, commercial, transit, energy, etc. cooperation [with the body's member states]," the Foreign Minister added.

The SCO's Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Amir-Abdollahian added, congratulated the Islamic Republic on the occasion of Iran's "permanent accession" and signing of the document, calling it an "important development."

Iran and the organization started a formal process for Tehran’s accession to the bloc in March. Iran's membership in the body was later approved by the Iranian administration.

Also on Wednesday, Ali Bahadori Jahromi, the Iranian government's spokesman, said draft legislation outlining Iran's membership in the organization had been submitted to Majlis (the Iranian parliament) for approval.

SS