Iran says SCO, BRICS can help establish new world order

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS group of emerging economies can have a huge influence on the establishment of a new world order.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in Cape Town on Thursday as he met with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor. The chief Iranian diplomat said the world order is changing.

The SCO was founded by China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in 2001, and today forms the world's biggest regional market with eight official members, and three observer states.

Iran and the SCO started a formal process for Tehran’s accession in March 2022. Iran's membership was later approved by the administration in Tehran.

Foreign minister: Iran determined to play active role in Shanghai Cooperation Organization

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The BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which hold about half of the world’s population, accounting for 30 percent of the total land area of the world. The significance of this group and its leading role in the world economy has caused several countries including Iran to show a tendency to join.

Amir-Abdollahian expressed hope that BRICS member states would soon work out mechanisms for the membership of Iran and other interested countries. He said efforts are underway to hold a session of the Iran-South Africa Joint Economic Commission in South Africa's administrative capital, Pretoria. The Iranian minister praised the forthcoming event as it would help enhance relations between the two countries.

The foreign minister of Iran underscored the need to implement already concluded agreements with South Africa. He said it was necessary to activate sub-committees of the Joint Economic Commission as soon as possible.

Amir-Abdollahian listed some capacities of Iran’s technological and engineering companies. He said the Islamic Republic was prepared to tap such capabilities and further cement economic cooperation with South Africa.

Amir-Abdollahian then pointed to Iran's invaluable experience in helping neighboring countries to fight terrorism, voicing his country’s preparedness to hold expert consultations with relevant South African institutions in this regard.

He also appreciated South Africa's support for the Palestinian cause and the oppressed nation’s struggle against Israel.

BRICS summit mulling expansion to forge counterweight to West

BIRCS foreign ministers gather in South Africa for a meeting aimed at discussing expansion and other measures to establish counterbalance to Western economic model.

For her part, Pandor appreciated Amir-Abdollahian’s presence at the BRICS meeting, which is slated for June 2. He said the BRICS foreign ministers will exchange viewpoints on the membership mechanism and deliver the results to the next summit. The minister welcomed new countries joining the BRICS Cooperation Bank.

The South African foreign minister also called for the expansion of economic cooperation between Pretoria and Tehran. She hoped the ground would be prepared for the visit of President Ebrahim Raeisi to Pretoria in the near future.

Pandor also pointed to some developments in the southern flank of Africa and referred to terrorism as one of the biggest dangers in the region.

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