On July 4, 2023, the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization officially accepted Iran as a member state. At this point, the number of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has increased to 9.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established in 2001, with six founding members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In 2017, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization completed its first expansion, granting member states status to India and Pakistan.

In September 2022, the Samarkand Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization signed a memorandum on Iran's obligations to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and started the process of receiving Belarus as a member state.

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit held via video on July 4th, leaders of member states welcomed Iran's official accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and looked forward to Belarus completing the process of joining the organization as soon as possible. All parties expressed that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is constantly developing and strengthening, with an increasing international influence. It has made important contributions to deepening good neighborliness and friendship, safeguarding the common interests of member states, promoting regional and world peace and stability, and promoting common development. It has become a model for building a new type of international relationship with mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation. The summit also approved the signing of a memorandum on Belarus' obligations to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Zhang Ming, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, delivered a speech at the ceremony

In his speech at the ceremony, Zhang Ming, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, stated that Iran's formal accession to the organization was a "historic decision". He also stated that he believes that Iran, as a full member of this organization, will be conducive to enhancing mutual trust and unity among member states, and maintaining regional security and stability. To expand and deepen cooperation in various fields of common interest such as economy and trade, transportation, investment, tourism, energy, education, science, culture, and other areas of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and to create new possibilities.Editor/Ma Xue