Dmitry Mezentsev: Iran confirms aspiration to expand interaction with the SCO

Iran has considerable potential for strengthening its ties with the SCO family countries, which, in the years to come, will be in great demand. There is potential for cooperation in a number of areas, including tourism, culture and humanitarian efforts, as well trade and the economy, SCO Secretary-General Dmitry Mezentsev told Sputnik.

"The organisation's interaction with Iran, an SCO observer state since 2005, confirms Iran's aspiration to make relations with the SCO highly substantive, to contribute its experience in maintaining regional security and stability, developing national infrastructure, and in facilitating the expansion of multilateral cooperation both within the organisation and with the observer countries on the basis of the 6+5 formula," he said.

Mr. Mezentsev emphasized that he welcomes a discussion on Iran's accession at the upcoming SCO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs Meeting.

"If Iran joins the organisation, this will strengthen its prestige, promote multilateral cooperation, and increase the SCO's influence on issues on the international agenda," he said.

It should be recalled that Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, speaking in a recent interview with the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, said that after the lifting of sanctions Iran would have a good chance at full membership of the SCO.