"Iran’s accession as a full member will be one of the key decisions of the July 4 summit that will take place in New Delhi via video conference," he said.
"Iran has completed the mandatory procedures and will join the family of SCO member states at the New Delhi summit," he added, addressing a session titled "Integration in the Name of Development: Practical Aspects of Cooperation Under the SCO" at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Khakimov also pointed to another important decision that will be made at the SCO summit. "A memorandum will be signed on Belarus’ obligations aimed at obtaining the status of a member state," he noted. "Belarus is doing its best to speed up this process, and the idea is seen very positively within the organization," the diplomat added, TASS reported.
The Indian Foreign Ministry announced earlier that a meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State would take place online on July 4.
In addition to the SCO’s eight member states, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have been invited to the event as observer states.