Iran to become full member of Shanghai alliance: Russian FM

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

58% : Why it matters: SCO membership could benefit Iran.
55% : Last year, Iran signed a memorandum of obligations to join as a permanent member.
55% : Iran is also seeking more trade with SCO member states, as well as better relations in general with Russia and China.
54% : In addition to SCO membership, Iran is working with Russia and India to develop the International North-South Transport Corridor as a rival to the Suez Canal.
54% : Iran and Russia signed a $1.6 billion railway deal to this end in May. Know more: Gulf states are also seeking better relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
51% : Iran become an observer in the SCO back in 2005.
49% : - YURI KOCHETKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Iran will be admitted to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a full member next month, further strengthening the Islamic Republic's ties to China and Russia amid international isolation and sanctions.
40% : Iran is still heavily sanctioned by the United States, and talks to return to the nuclear deal have so far failed to yield results.
38% : China and India have also not invested as much in Iran recently as Tehran hoped, Shokri wrote for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace last November
37% : In March, China brokered the agreement that resumed relations between Iran and longtime foe Saudi Arabia.

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