Iran’s deputy foreign minister says countries are joining multilateral organizations as a result of the declining influence of unilateralism.

Iran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member on July 4th.

Iran's accession to the Shanghai Security Organization (SCO) allows the country to reap huge security and economic benefits and helps the regional grouping to advance towards its goal of creating a democratic international order, according to a former Iranian diplomat.

Iran has become the ninth full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. 

The Iranian foreign minister was speaking on the phone with the SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming.

The Iranian government has set one of its strategic priorities to activate the capacities of diplomacy and play a role in regional and global developments, placing economic diplomacy at the top of its actions.

A Russian official says Iran's full membership of the SCO will be at the top of the agenda of the upcoming summit of the organization.