Procedure of Iran's admission to SCO launched

The participants in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Dushanbe have signed a document on cooperation, envisaging the start of Iran's admission to the organization.

Report informs, citing TASS, that the number of SCO participants will soon reach nine. Nonetheless, Tehran's accession to the international organization may take some time.

In 2005, Iran received observer status at SCO, and in 2008, the country bid for full membership. Before 2015, SCO could not admit Tehran due to the anti-Iranian sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.