Iran Joins The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivers a speech during the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Reuters

The National: Iran joins expanding Asian security body led by China and Russia

Iran joined a rapidly expanding Central Asian security body led by Russia and China on Friday, calling on the countries in the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation to help it form a mechanism to avert sanctions imposed by the West.

The body, formed in 2001 as a forum for Russia, China and ex-Soviet states in Central Asia, expanded four years ago to include India and Pakistan with a view to playing a bigger role as counterweight to western influence in the region.

In a sign of its growing influence, the body's summit in Tajikistan was the first appearance abroad of Iran's new hard-line president, Ebrahim Raisi, since he took office in August.

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Update #1:Iran joins expanding Asian security body led by Moscow, Beijing (Reuters)

Update #2: Iran looks east after China-led bloc OKs entry (France 24)

WNU Editor: For Iran it is all about avoiding sanctions.