“Over the past few years, Iran has pursued the strategy of cementing ties with the SCO, and Iran’s membership in the body as an observer has strengthened that strategy,” Manouchehr Mottaki stated in a meeting with SCO Secretary General Bolat Nurgaliyev in Tehran on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Nurgaliyev said that considering Iran’s “constructive role”, its cooperation with the SCO will contribute to peace and security in the region, IRNA reported.

The SCO groups together Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan as its full members and mainly addresses security issues.

Iran joined the SCO as an observer in 2005 and is seeking to become a full member.