Nournews: Since 1996, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has evolved into one of the most important political and economic blocs in Eurasia. Nearly 2.5 billion people and over 40% of the global economy fall within this framework—a capacity that presents an unparalleled opportunity for a country like Iran, which faces Western sanctions and the constraints of U.S. unilateralism. Iran’s formal accession to full membership in July 2023 effectively opened a new horizon in the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy. Now, Pezeshkian’s visit to Shanghai provides Iran with a chance to transform its geopolitical, energy, and transit capacities into a diplomatic and economic advantage at both regional and global levels.
Suspension of the snapback mechanism and negotiation space
While three European countries—Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—seek to activate the snapback mechanism against Iran, China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, have openly opposed the European move. Pezeshkian’s visit to China occurs precisely in this context, where his dialogues with Beijing’s leaders could help form a political consensus against the West’s confrontational stance. Shanghai thus offers an opportunity to moderate Europe’s legal and political pressures and pave the way for balanced diplomacy.
Iran’s strategic capacities in Shanghai
From a geopolitical and geoeconomic perspective, Iran occupies a unique position in SCO calculations. Its vast oil and gas reserves, location at the crossroads of East-West and North-South transit routes, and stabilizing role in Persian Gulf security give Iran a key role in global energy and trade. Within the framework of the 25-year cooperation agreement with China, these capacities could be transformed into joint projects in clean energy, transit infrastructure, and technological cooperation.
Pezeshkian’s balanced diplomacy: From Beijing to New York
Pezeshkian’s first visit to China as president carries a clear message: Iran intends to demonstrate balanced foreign policy in practice. His meetings with Xi Jinping and other leaders at the summit, alongside his upcoming trip to New York for the UN General Assembly, indicate that the fourteenth administration is pursuing dual eastern and western tracks simultaneously. On one hand, it seeks to leverage eastern capacities to reduce sanctions pressure and expand strategic cooperation; on the other, it aims to use UN opportunities to articulate Iran’s positions clearly and break the Western media blockade. This smart combination of multilateral diplomacy and political clarity could, if planned goals are achieved, reshape regional and global dynamics impacting Iran’s security environment.
NOURNEWS