Paper title:
 The Sco’s Iran Expansion in the Regional Equation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4316/CC.2025.01.11
Published in:
Issue 1 (Vol. 31) / 2025
Publishing date:
2025-07-31
Pages:
251 - 272
Author(s):
Nazrin ALIZADA
Abstract:
 Iran, which had held observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) since 2005, formally initiated its accession process by signing a memorandum of commitment for full membership during the SCO summit in Samarkand in September 2022. Subsequently, the Iranian Parliament ratified a bill endorsing the country’s accession to the organisation. In doing so, Iran fulfilled all the legal and procedural requirements and officially became a permanent member of the SCO. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges Iran faced throughout the accession process; the arguments put forth by domestic and inter-national actors opposing its membership, and the implications of internal political develop-ments on its foreign policy orientation. It also examines Iran’s strategic pivot toward the Eastern axis and the broader geopolitical motivations behind Russia’s support for Iran’s membership. The core objective of this research is to evaluate how Iran can strategically capitalise on this foreign policy reorientation to enhance its regional and global standing.
Keywords:
 Regional policy, integration, Iran, SCO, international relations.




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