TEHRAN – Iran has expressed its readiness to play an active role in addressing challenges and fostering peace and security in West Asia through collaboration with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the United Nations.

This announcement was made by Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani, during a UN Security Council meeting focused on the cooperation between the UN and regional organizations.

Iravani emphasized the growing importance of enhancing cooperation between the UN and regional organizations to tackle the complexities of the global environment. He noted that maintaining international peace and security now requires coordinated responses at national, regional, and international levels.

"Enhancing collaboration between the United Nations and regional organizations is more important than ever," Iravani stated. He highlighted that regional organizations possess unique insights into local issues, offering tailored preventive mechanisms and realistic solutions to emerging conflicts, which can facilitate peaceful and political resolutions.

Iran values the roles of regional bodies such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the SCO, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in bolstering peace and stability. Iravani pointed out that Iran sees the collaboration between these organizations and the UN as crucial for enhancing security and development, which are deeply interconnected.

Iravani also addressed significant concerns for Iran, such as drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, proposing these issues as opportunities for practical interaction between the UN and the SCO. He praised the SCO’s multifaceted structure, which supports international efforts in conflict prevention, counter-terrorism, and combating illegal drugs.

The ambassador stressed that strengthening partnerships with organizations like the SCO is essential for effectively tackling terrorism, transnational crime, and other emerging threats, thereby contributing to global peace and development. Last year, Iran's full membership in the SCO was officially approved, and the country participated actively in the 24th SCO summit in Astana earlier this month.

Iravani further expressed Iran’s support for closer cooperation between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and SCO member states to combat illicit drug trade and organized crime. He underscored the importance of joint efforts in enhancing stability and development in Afghanistan, a country facing significant humanitarian challenges.

"Given the pressing challenges Afghanistan faces, we believe that enhanced cooperation between the UN and the SCO has significant potential to foster stability and development in Afghanistan," Iravani said. He suggested that collaborative efforts on security, economic development, humanitarian assistance, political support, and regional integration could contribute to a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Iran stands ready to engage in dialogue and cooperation within the frameworks of the SCO and the UN to address pressing challenges and promote peace and security in the region, according to Iravani. 

Afghanistan is grappling with various economic, social, and security issues after two decades of U.S. occupation. Since Washington’s military withdrawal from the war-torn country in 2021, the White house has frozen billions of dollars of Afghanistan’s assets under different pretexts, further worsening the plight of Afghan civilians. 

The United Nations estimates that 23.7 million Afghans will require humanitarian assistance in 2024, illustrating the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to address the ongoing crisis in the country.

Iran, which is home to the largest number of Afghan refugees in the world, has been urging regional and extra-regional countries as well as international bodies to help Tehran soothe the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It has also repeatedly condemned the U.S. for obscuring the establishment of peace and security in the war-stricken nation.