WANA (Apr 25) – In a meeting on the sidelines of the 20th Conference of Chief Justices of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held in Hangzhou, China, the head of Iran’s Judiciary discussed the Islamic Republic’s position on legal and judicial cooperation, counter-terrorism, sanctions, and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

 

Speaking to Chinese media outlets CGTN, China Daily, and Xinhua, he highlighted Iran’s long-standing struggle against terrorism, noting that since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, over 23,000 members of the military, clerics, and civilians have lost their lives in terrorist attacks by groups linked to global powers.

 

He stressed the need for the SCO to revise its current approaches and to expand cooperation by leveraging the geopolitical potential of its member states in order to confront shared threats. Referring to the heavy costs Iran has borne in its fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, he stated that the Judiciary alone has suffered around one thousand casualties in this effort and is ready to share its experience with other countries.

 

According to him, terrorist groups, smuggling networks, and economic corruptors are among the key drivers of money laundering in the region, and effective action against these crimes is only possible through legal and intelligence cooperation among SCO members.

 

He also pointed to Iran’s experience in cyber security and artificial intelligence, describing AI as a valuable but potentially dangerous tool. He stated that Iran has been the target of continuous cyberattacks and, in countering them, has gained significant expertise which it is willing to share with other nations.

 

Addressing the issue of Western sanctions against Iran, the Judiciary chief condemned them as violations of human rights and urged a collective response from SCO countries. In his view, Iran not only withstood these pressures but also boosted its deterrence capacity through reliance on domestic capabilities.

 

He emphasized that the SCO, by utilizing its demographic, geographical, and political assets—along with some members’ involvement in other organizations like BRICS—can play a key role in promoting global peace. From his perspective, resisting unilateralism requires practical and legal synergy among independent states.

 

In closing, he criticized the West’s instrumental use of human rights concepts, calling it a factor undermining global peace, and urged independent nations to redefine such concepts in a more genuine and balanced manner.