Link to Article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-joins-expanding-asian-security-body-led-by-moscow-beijing-2021-09-17/
Recently the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO expanded to include Iran, further expanding their membership after India and Pakistan joined 4 years ago. The SCO is an economic and security alliance formed in 2001 between Russia, China and other post-Soviet States as a counter to increasing Western influence in Eastern Europe. This development comes with the Organization’s summit in Tajikistan where the Iranian president addressed future increased political and economic ties with China and other SCO Countries as well as the sanctions placed against Iran by Western countries. These sanctions, which are a result of Iran’s nuclear program, were supposed to be removed in 2015 if Iran eliminated their program. However, this deal was abandoned in 2018 and the sanctions remain in place and Iran joining the SCO is meant as a counter to the sanctions.
This is a significant development because Iran is a major power in the middle east and joining the SCO will further strengthen their position in the region. The increased economic ties with SCO countries may help them to negate the impact of the sanctions placed on Iran and they have stated that they will continue their nuclear programs. With the increased economic activity Iran may be able to further develop their military and nuclear programs at a faster rate which would lead to increased influence throughout the middle east. On top of this, Iran and Saudi Arabia are currently fighting multiple proxy wars, Iran quickly increasing their military power or possibly becoming a nuclear power would lead to increased tensions and possibly a wider conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
This story relates to International Relations because Iran is a major player in the middle east and is looking for ways to further increase their influence in the region. Through joining a large IGO with several global actors as members, Iran is able to get more political leverage in the region and increase their strength with the increased economic ties. It also shows how a country can try to reduce the effect of economic sanctions by joining an IGO that includes an economic aspect.