Sputnik - On Friday, India and Pakistan were formally inducted as the newest members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the first-ever expansion of the six-member group. Russia actively backs Iran's membership in the block. Sputnik interviewed a number of experts, who explained why the organization and Iran, in fact, need each other.


India and Pakistan have been formally inducted as�the newest members of�the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at�the annual summit of�the block, which wrapped up�on Friday in�Astana, Kazakhstan.


The SCO is a political, military and economic alliance between�Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Belarus, Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan hold observer status in�the organization, while Azerbaijan,
Cambodia, Armenia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka hold the status of�dialogue partners.

Russia also backs Tehran's bid for�permanent membership in�the block. Russian and Iranian experts, interviewed by�Sputnik Persian, noted that SCO is a unique platform for�mutually beneficial balances. The integration of�such a strong regional player as�Iran opens vast prospects for�better security for�both. Both Tehran and the SCO could collectively stand up�to existing threats in�the best interests of�peace and development, not only in�the region but�far beyond�the territory of�the SCO.

Alexander Sharov, Deputy Head of�Iranian Department at�SCO Business Club, CEO of�GK "RusIranEkspo" and "Khimtrans" told Sputnik that Iran has been knocking at�the SCO's door for�a long time.

"Iran applied for�membership in�the SCO back in�2011 when it was very eager to�become a full-fledged member of�this organization. But then there were hurdles over�the anti-Iranian sanctions imposed by�UN and a number of�preconditions put forward by�other member states. Apart from�Russia and China, there are other members and there is a need for�a collective decision on�the issue," he told Sputnik.

Back in�2012, he said, the SCO opened its Business Club in�Tehran, which has proven to�be a success. However Iran's interest has noticeably cooled down�since then, he said. Additionally, the country had certain hopes for�President Rouhani, who wanted to�plug Iran into�the western globalization process.
However, Iran now sees for�itself, the expert said, that the West � is a closed system which does not accept any newcomers, neither on�its merits nor the size of�its assets, nor on�any other ground.


Thus Iran is turning back to�the SCO once again, as�well as�to other organizations in�Eurasia, he said.
China also supports Iran's membership in�the SCO, and when Tehran becomes a permanent member of�the block, it will open up�large opportunities for�the transport logistics of�China's New Silk Road project, as�well as�other transport routes, such as�the North-South Transport Corridor from�India into�Russia and further into�Europe.


It will also provide new opportunities for�security, Sharov said. There are threats which are common for�all the members of�the organization, such as�terrorism. By uniting efforts, all the member states could stop this threat, which is coming from�the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Iran�s Minister of�Information and Communication Technology Mahmoud Vaezi voiced Iran's interest in�the organization. During the 21st St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2017) he said that Iran is able to�play a more effective role in�the SCO.

Dr. Mahmoud Shuri, senior researcher at�the Department of�Russian studies at�the Institute for�the study of�Iran and Eurasia (IRAS), a member of�the Scientific Council of�the Institute also thinks that Iran's integration within�a regional alliance of�such strong countries, can become a guarantor of�stability and security in�the region.

"There has been a long discussion on�Iran's full-fledged membership in�the SCO. Tehran's application has not been considered due to�certain reasons. Nonetheless, last year it was announced that when the process of�accession of�India and Pakistan is over, it will be Iran's turn," Dr Mahmoud Shuri told Sputnik.
Iran's accession to�the SCO will become a guarantor of�the stability and security of�the member states of�the organization, he said. Iran has a profound experience in�the fight against�terrorism and is able to�help the SCO member states increase security in�their countries. Iran, in�turn, will be able to�expand its cooperation with�such strong member states as�Russia and China, the expert said.


Meanwhile, Sputnik China interviewed a number of�experts on�China's support of�the Iranian bid.
Russian political analyst and head of�the Middle East-Caucasus think-tank Stanislav Tarasov noted that Beijing decided to�activate its support of�Tehran in�the wake of�the recent One Belt, One Road Forum in�China, which was marred by�a high-profile boycott by�India.


Iran, however, is also becoming a zone of�increased risk for�the One Belt, One Road project, the expert said.
"Iran might also fall out�of the project due to�the aggravation of�the situation in�the region, while the US has appointed it as�its major enemy. It means that Iran has all the chances to�turn into�a potential battlefield, into�a potential destabilization zone," he told Sputnik.


It is highly risky to�invest in�such a zone, he further noted. China will be unable to�solve Iran's problem on�its own, without�any support, hence SCO authority becomes a great opportunity to�maintain stability in�the Middle East.


Beijing, Tarasov said, will try to�exploit the SCO format in�its geopolitical interests and for�the practical implementation of�its global One Belt, One Road project.


The SCO will get a very serious regional player with�huge potential, the expert said. China will lobby its interests in�the SCO while strengthening its influence in�the Middle East.� Iran, in�turn, will get Russia and China as�its main supporters but�will continue playing its own card, given certain nuances in�the� Russian-Iranian relationship.

Thus, the expert said, Russia should come up�with such a diplomatic move to�be able to�convert its traditional ties with�Iran into�the expanded trade-economic cooperation and additional investments from�Iran through�the SCO.

Irina Fedorova, a senior analyst at�the Russian Academy of�Sciences' Center for�Middle Eastern and Oriental Studies noted to�Sputnik that even though Russia and China are interested in�Iran's membership in�the SCO, the bid might face certain hurdles.

"The fact of�the matter is whether Russia and China have enough influence on�the permanent members of�the SCO," she said.
The expert further elaborated that another member of�the organization, Tajikistan, is being greatly influenced by�Saudi Arabia. Tajik authorities repeatedly voiced their rejection of�Iran's growing cultural influence on�their country and called for�the restriction of�the activities of� Iran's numerous religious centers operating in�Tajikistan.


The Islamic Renaissance Party of�Tajikistan, which is banned in�Tajikistan, she said, has recently been invited to�Iran to�the meeting of�the leaders of�the Islamic state, which has caused sharp discontent in�Tajikistan, the expert noted.


Iran, Fedorova said, has certain discrepancies not only with�Tajikistan, but�with Pakistan as�well.� Iran thinks Pakistan is not very active in�fighting against�Baluchi militants' organizations which are operating in�both countries. Their terrorist attacks constantly mar the bilateral relations between�the two countries, the expert said.
Thus Iran, she suggested, would be interested in�China using its influence in�setting relations between�the two countries, but�China's abilities are not limitless, she said.


Meanwhile Ji Kaiyun, an expert at�the Center for�Iranian Studies at�the Chinese Southwest University, noted that Iran is located between�Western, Southern and Central Asia and serves as�a bridge between�Asia and Europe, along�China's projected New Silk Route.


Thus Iran's accession into�the SCO can strengthen ties between�Central and Western Asia and connect the ground and naval routes of�the New Silk Route.

Besides, the expert said, Iran is part of�the Islamic world and has a very strong language and culture. For the last 30 years it remains the most secure and stable country in�the Middle East. Additionally it is the closest neighbor of�Afghanistan, one of�the major sources of�drug production and drug trafficking in�the world.
Its accession to�the SCO will play an irreplaceable role in�the fight against�drug production and drug trafficking and in�combatting terrorism, separatism and extremism, the expert said.


Iran's membership in�the SCO will contribute to�creation of�a communicative line between�Southern and Western Asia, he said, in�the creation of�the infrastructure of�the New Silk Route.� Which will bring high dividends both to�Iran and SCO member states, he concluded.