Shanghai 2025: Iran and the Eastern Powers’ Great Playing Field
WANA (Aug 31) – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as a Eurasian body encompassing half of the world’s population and holding a significant share in global security and economic dynamics, provides its members with a unique platform—one that, if effectively utilized, could open new paths for advancing national interests and elevating regional and global standing.
In this context, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian departed for China today, August 31, to attend the 25th SCO summit. According to Mehdi Sanaei, the president’s political advisor, Pezeshkian will not only deliver a speech at the main summit but will also participate in the “Shanghai Plus” meeting, which brings together officials from more than 30 countries.
This marks the Iranian president’s first visit to China—a trip of special importance both in terms of bilateral relations and Tehran’s engagement within the SCO. China’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the 2025 summit will take place on August 31–September 1 in Tianjin under the chairmanship of President Xi Jinping. Alongside the main gathering, “Shanghai Plus” will be held with the participation of leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, António Guterres, and Masoud Pezeshkian.
The Shanghai Summit is a Key Opportunity to Strengthen Multilateralism and Regional Peace
WANA (Aug 31) – Iran’s president, ahead of his departure to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, described the gathering as a pivotal moment to deepen regional cooperation and counter unilateralism. Speaking at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Sunday (August 31), Masoud Pezeshkian said: “The SCO member states represent nearly 2.5 billion people […]
Ahead of his departure, Pezeshkian described relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the People’s Republic of China as “strategic,” emphasizing Tehran’s role as a “reliable partner” for Beijing in political, economic, and international arenas.
From Border Agreements to a Eurasian Power Bloc
The SCO originated in 1996 as a mechanism to reduce border tensions and safeguard the sovereignty of newly independent post-Soviet republics. Its founding members were China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. These efforts led to the formal establishment of the organization in 2001, with its charter entering into force in 2003 in St. Petersburg.
Today, the SCO has evolved from a security framework into a broad platform for economic, defense, and political cooperation. With members including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Iran, the SCO has become an influential institution—covering over 40% of the world’s population and accounting for nearly 30% of global GDP.
While conflicting interests between some members—such as India and Pakistan—pose challenges, the shared drive to counter Western unilateralism and promote a multilateral framework remains the main engine of cooperation.
The 25th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Iran’s Position in the SCO
Iran’s accession process began in 2004, and in July 2023 the Islamic Republic officially became a full member, following its provisional approval at the 2021 Dushanbe summit.
Analysts suggest Iran’s presence in the SCO can be understood along two main axes:
1. Political Dimension
By joining the SCO alongside powers such as China, Russia, and India, Iran has complicated Western efforts to isolate it. Membership aligns with the Islamic Republic’s long-standing policy of multilateralism and resistance to Western hegemony, while strengthening Tehran’s role in Asian geopolitics.
2. Economic Dimension
The vast markets of Central and East Asia represent an exceptional opportunity for Iran. Trade between Iran and SCO members is currently estimated at over $30 billion, and Iranian officials believe this framework could integrate the country into global supply chains while facilitating banking and trade cooperation.
Key areas of cooperation include transportation projects, banking and customs collaboration, agriculture, and energy. Given Iran’s geostrategic location, it could serve as a vital link between Russia and India, playing a pivotal role in transit corridors.
China, as the largest buyer of Iranian oil, holds particular weight in this equation, and initiatives such as the SCO’s “Energy Club” could further strengthen this partnership.
Presidents of Iran and China. Social media / WANA News Agency
Looking Ahead
So far, the SCO has supported nearly 100 economic and development projects, and discussions on establishing a Shanghai Development Bank are underway. Such an institution could help bypass U.S. financial sanctions and expand banking cooperation among members.
Meanwhile, during President Pezeshkian’s visit, official accounts linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader published his statements in Chinese, underscoring the need to operationalize the Iran–China strategic partnership and highlighting the two countries’ shared role in shaping regional and global developments.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Reaffirms China Deal as Pezeshkian Visits Beijing Social Media / WANA News Agency
