The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ibrahim Raeesi preferred East instead of West to make his first foreign visit. He participated in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), also known as the Eurasian political, economic and security alliance and skipped the United Nations meeting. The visit also was substantive for Iran because it was to be a permanent member of the SCO. Tehran believes that Asian powers are rising and they may disservice to the US influence in the region and maybe on the globe.
China and Russia have no common interests with the USA to control Iran and to suppress its economy. On the contrary, they may be willing to accept Iran in order to develop their interests in the Middle East and in the Persian Gulf.
President Raeesi’s visit to Tajikistan to participate in the SCO summit was not symbolic but it was very substantive. He expressed his future aim in the conference to expand political, economic and cultural ties with countries across the region to protect Iran from unilateral punishments from the West. His speech predominantly emphasized his main stated foreign policy goal. He stated, “The world has entered in a new era, hegemony and unilateralism is failing. The international balance is moving toward multilateralism and redistribution of power to the benefit of independent countries.” He talked, “Sanctions or economic terrorism as major hurdles for regional progress,” and called on the SCO member states to develop structures and mechanisms to fight against the sanctions as a group. Mr. Raeesi viewed diplomacy as the only tool to secure national interest and this will be effective when all the major powers abide by it. “Unilateral sanctions are not against only one country but it has become evident in recent years, sanctions have targeted more independent countries, especially members of the organisation”. He further said, “Iran’s geopolitical position, population, energy supplies, transport potential, workforce and culture can provide “meaningful momentum” to major regional master plans, including China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Eurasian economic Union”.
President Raeesi is trying to recover all the strips of the JCPOA deal and nuclear programme broken by President Donald Trump. At the time, when indications of negotiation are growing from both sides, China may play an important role in facilitating and supporting negotiation between Tehran and Washington. China has several options, like diplomatic engagement, BRI and foreign direct investment in Iran, to bring Iran on the table for negotiation with the USA. China already has the experience to engage Iran for the nuclear deal. Iran’s acceptance as a SCO permanent member is a great achievement and China has supported Iran in this regard.
Iran has expressed its desire to join CPEC, a mega-project of China and Pakistan for regional connectivity. To be a permanent member of SCO Iran has a large potential to become a beneficiary of the CPEC.
The entry of Iran in the SCO may enhance its cooperative relationship with member states China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. This move can neutralize Western countries to isolate Iran and also can strengthen Iran’s position in West Asia.
Iran thinks that JCPOA was not about Iranian nuclear program’s legitimacy; it was only for the containment of Iran and also was a try to limit Iran’s power and influence in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf. Once former president Hassan Ruhani said, “The West never helped Iran, it will hit Iran whenever it can.” Therefore, they have to learn that the West can never be trusted. Even that, Ruhani’s effort to revive the JCPOA, was a kind of look-West approach which has died.
President Raeesi also has criticized the policy of Ruhani who depended on the West to save Iran from sanctions. Iranians think sanctions are Washington’s tool to thwart their nuclear and missile programmes and their growing influence in the Middle East. Therefore, they believe that the only way for Iran is to find new strategic and powerful partners like China and Russia. Iran optimises that China and Russia might support it during the nuclear talks. The membership of SCO follows the way to the East.
On the other hand, China-Iran also has signed a 25-year agreement of $400 billion investment, including security ties. Iran would like to join the Belt and Road Initiative and wants to attract Chinese investment in other mega projects. Tehran believes that Chinese investment may turn Iran’s geopolitical potential into reality. The geography of Iran makes it a bridge between Asia and Europe. The joining with the world’s largest regional organization can protect Iran from isolation and US sanctions. Then Iran may be able to play a significant role in the economic activities and security of the region and beyond the region. The withdrawal of the USA from Afghanistan also has enlarged its role in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. As well as it may promote its trade and defence cooperation with all SCO member states.
Russia also has agreed to expand its bilateral cooperation with Iran. Russia can sell more sophisticated arms to Iran. As a member of the SCO, Iran may extend its defensive perimeters, military manoeuvres and security cooperation with Russia. Iran and Pakistan have not had ideal relations since the Islamic revolution in 1979. Both the countries have complaints about uncertainty and instability in border areas. Recently Iran follows the assumption about Pakistan’s backing of the Taliban in squashing the northern alliance’s resistance in Panjshir region of Afghanistan. Although both countries have complaints for each other, there is a great potential for bilateral cooperation.
Iran has expressed its desire to join CPEC, a mega-project of China and Pakistan for regional connectivity. To be a permanent member of SCO Iran has a large potential to become a beneficiary of the CPEC.
However Iran may avail opportunities to generate more leverage for the SCO member states and greater reliance on the east. But if Tehran thinks that only by becoming the part of different regional organizations in neighbouring regions, including Eurasia, could spontaneously break the wall of sanctions and lead it to diversify fruitful foreign relations, it would not be bad but illusory.
