SCO Signs Wide-Ranging Pacts; Iran Sets the Agenda

Date: 18 November 2025 - 22:04

News ID: ۱۴۵۹۷۹

MOSCOW/TEHRAN – Prime ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) signed a series of cooperation agreements spanning economic policy, transport, digital governance, security and social development at the conclusion of the bloc’s 24th Prime Ministers’ Meeting in Moscow on Tuesday.
First Vice President Muhammad-Reza Aref represented Iran at the gathering, which ended with a detailed joint communiqué and 11 accompanying agreements, reflecting a broad agenda for the organization and several priorities advanced by Tehran.
The communiqué reaffirmed opposition to unilateral Western sanctions, particularly those targeting Iran, and highlighted concerns that economic restrictions imposed without UN approval undermine international cooperation and obstruct progress toward sustainable development.
Member states declared that they “oppose unilateral coercive measures, including economic actions inconsistent with the UN Charter and international law,” language that Iranian officials said Tehran had actively pushed for throughout negotiations.
The communiqué also referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2231, noting that several provisions of the resolution “have lost validity” in accordance with paragraph 8.
Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, contained multiple “sunset clauses” establishing automatic expiration dates for restrictions related to arms transfers, ballistic-missile-related activities and certain nuclear commitments unless renewed by the Security Council. Because the Council did not extend these measures, they have lapsed, a point the SCO highlighted to underline the importance of multilateral consensus and time-bound commitments in international agreements.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs and senior coordinator for SCO and BRICS affairs, said that beyond the geopolitical implications, Iran succeeded in incorporating several practical and technical proposals into the final package of documents adopted in Moscow.
According to him, the joint communiqué took note of Iran’s proposal to establish a Strategic Security Studies Centre in Iran, aimed at enhancing research cooperation and security policy coordination across the SCO.
The document also recorded Iran’s initiative to create a committee dedicated to emerging and transformative technologies, reflecting Iran’s emphasis on advanced industries and digital innovation within the bloc.
The communiqué further acknowledged Iran’s support for forming an SCO export-credit and investment insurance union to facilitate cross-border projects, as well as proposals for establishing an aviation-safety agency among member states.
It also supported equal and mutually beneficial international cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy — an area that Tehran sees as central to its long-term technological and economic strategy.
Iran also backed the inclusion of language emphasizing respect for the cultural and historical rights of all SCO countries in activities relating to the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage.
Gharibabadi said that some of Iran’s more technical proposals were incorporated into the specialized documents signed by the prime ministers.
One key amendment allows member states to pay their financial contributions to the SCO in non-dollar currencies, a decision aligned with Iran’s broader push to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar in regional financial mechanisms.
Iranian officials have described this step as a modest but meaningful move toward creating more flexible and resilient pay
ment frameworks within the organization.
In the 2026–2027 action plan for cooperation among the railway authorities of SCO member states, Iran secured the addition of a clause focused on scientific, research and technological collaboration in the rail sector.
The provision encourages member states to share expertise and expand technology transfer, with Iranian officials arguing that such linkages will accelerate the development of regional transit routes in which Iran aims to play a central role.
Another Iranian addition appeared in the 2026–2028 roadmap for cooperation on social development. Iran inserted language calling for negotiations on bilateral social-security agreements among SCO members, which Tehran says could improve the welfare of workers and reduce administrative barriers for cross-border mobility.
While Iran-related issues received considerable attention, the broader agenda of the Moscow meeting extended across economic, political and technological fields.
Member states praised China’s 2024–2025 chairmanship and expressed support for Kyrgyzstan as it assumes the presidency for 2025–2026.
Delegations reiterated backing for reforming multilateral institutions, particularly the UN, to reflect contemporary geopolitical and economic realities and provide greater representation for developing countries.
SCO leaders emphasized the need to strengthen trade and economic cooperation in the face of global uncertainty, citing the outcomes of meetings of trade ministers earlier in the year.
The communiqué called for strengthening regional markets, improving payment and settlement systems, securing supply chains and expanding cross-border investment.
Plans to establish an SCO insurance union, create an online business-matching platform and launch an annual investment forum were endorsed as tools for deepening cooperation across the bloc.
Countries also reaffirmed their commitment to increasing the use of national currencies in mutual trade and instructed experts to refine financial infrastructure reforms aimed at improving interoperability among payment systems.
Member states welcomed ongoing work on regional transport and logistics corridors, including the start of construction on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, and encouraged continued efforts to streamline cross-border road transport.
Civil aviation cooperation is expected to grow through the expansion of air routes, improved cargo and passenger services and reduced administrative barriers. The communiqué noted interest in establishing an SCO aviation-security agency and underlined the importance of adopting environmentally sustainable technologies in transport.
Digital governance and advanced technology featured prominently, with member states calling for continued implementation of the SCO Action Plan on Digital Transformation adopted in 2025.
Delegations also reaffirmed commitments under the SCO artificial-intelligence roadmap and supported further cooperation on space technologies for climate monitoring, disaster prevention and economic development.
Energy security remained a central topic, with the SCO backing a balanced global energy system integrating fossil fuels, renewables, hydro and hydrogen sources. Delegations welcomed the establishment of the SCO Regional Centre for Critical Materials and reaffirmed support for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Health cooperation, education, cultural exchanges and tourism also formed part of the expansive agenda, with member states supporting new initiatives in digital medicine, youth exchanges and cross-border travel. Cholpon-Ata was named the SCO cultural and tourism capital for 2025–2026.