Iran Weighs Plans for Expanding Military Cooperation with Russia, China
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian defense minister held meetings with his Russian and Chinese counterparts to discuss plans to broaden Tehran’s military and defense cooperation with Moscow and Beijing.
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani held separate meetings with his Russian and Chinese counterparts on the sidelines of a conference of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Friday.
In the meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Ashtiani slammed the terrorist attacks in Russia and Iran as a result of the supports that the Western countries, particularly the US, provide for the terrorist groups.
He also called for the expansion of military and defense interaction between Tehran and Moscow in order to ensure regional stability and security and counter unilateralism in the world.
The two generals also stressed the need for closer cooperation between Iran and Russia in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism.
In another meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, the Iranian minister said the recent regional tensions and the appalling situation in Gaza are caused by the US’ destabilizing measures in the region and its supports for the Zionist regime.
For his part, the Chinese minister called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aids into the besieged enclave.
Dong Jun also stressed the need to enhance military and defense cooperation with Iran.
The conference in Astana reviewed the regional security issues, including defense cooperation among the SCO states.
The SCO, a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance, was formed in 2001 by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan at a summit held in Shanghai.
Iran was accepted as a main member of the SCO by the vote of all member states at the conclusion of the 21st summit in Dushanbe in September 2021 and joined the organization officially and permanently during a virtual summit of the SCO hosted by India in July 2023.
