Iran’s leaders acknowledge economic toll of war, pledge diplomacy, defence

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to attend a two-day summit in Kyrgyzstan, alongside leaders from Iran and India, marking the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO, a regional bloc aimed at counterbalancing Western influence, comprises Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian nations, and Belarus.

The summit, which began four-and-a-half years into Russia's Ukraine invasion and six months after the conflict between Washington and Tehran, will feature a plenary session chaired by Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov. In addition to holding bilateral talks, Putin is expected to meet Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and China's Xi in separate sessions.

The SCO, primarily focused on economic issues, has seen increased significance under Moscow and Beijing's leadership. With 15 dialogue partners and observer countries, including Afghanistan and Mongolia, the organization has faced both real and trade wars during its existence. During last year's summit, Putin criticized Western countries for exacerbating the Ukraine war, while Xi denounced US-Chinese tensions.

As some SCO members grapple with real conflicts or trade disputes, such as the Ukraine and Iran conflicts, or US-imposed tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods, Iran's participation in the bloc could potentially help circumvent Western sanctions. However, the SCO's impact remains uncertain, as the diverse membership often leads to disagreements and inconsistent support during crises.