China and Russia, the influential powers in the SCO, have abandoned their reservations in their relations with Iran in recent years and established a more comprehensive relationship.

While NATO’s new Strategic Concept is marginalizing Russia and Iran, these two countries have participated in the Caspian Summit in order to turn their geopolitical position to an advantage against the pressure.

Raisi considers the steps towards the East as a strategic achievement for the country's foreign policy, while opponents criticize Iran's potential dependency on Moscow and Beijing.

Given the reality of the world political economy and the member states' competing agendas, membership in the SCO will not significantly benefit Iran in the international system.

Iran’s policy of “Look to the East” to strengthen relations and counterbalance the West is a familiar phenomenon.

The 18th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Qingdao ended with the organization refraining from giving a clear answer to Iran's request for full membership of SCO once again.

With the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, it seems that all paths to the survival of this agreement lead to Brussels.