TEHRAN – Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref is set to travel to Islamabad to attend an upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to the deputy head of International Affairs and Regional Cooperation of the Iranian Presidential Office. 

Ali Najafi Khoshroudi shared this information, indicating that on Monday, Iran’s vice president will visit Islamabad at the official invitation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to take part in the 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, scheduled for October 16 and 17.

Khoshroudi further underscored, “Alongside the Iranian Vice President, who will be in Islamabad to participate in this meeting and sign relevant documents, the Prime Ministers of China, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, as well as the Foreign Minister of India, are also expected to attend the conference.”

According to the Iranian Presidential Office, Mohammad-Reza Aref will engage in discussions with several Prime Ministers and heads of delegations present at the meeting during the event's sidelines.

Iran officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a full member in July 2023, representing a pivotal development in its foreign policy and initiatives for regional collaboration. 

The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, serves as a Eurasian platform for political, economic, and security cooperation, emphasizing regional security, trade, and cultural exchange.

As Iran seeks to expand its economic and diplomatic ties amid ongoing sanctions, its membership in the SCO is expected to contribute to the country's strategic interests and reinforce its role in regional affairs.