Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stressed the need to build a multipolar world based on multilateralism, sovereign equality and the rule of law, calling for a fairer and more effective role for the United Nations and Security Council in addressing global developments.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, President Pezeshkian pointed to the growing desire among various countries to play a role in international decision-making, stressed that shifts in the balance of power should not lead to replacing one center of power with another or transferring hegemony.
President Pezeshkian congratulated Kyrgyzstan on the anniversary of its Independence Day and praised the country’s presidency and hosting of the meeting. He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on winning a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027-2028.
The Iranian president said the SCO’s experience over more than two decades demonstrated the importance of cooperation in addressing shared security challenges. He identified terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, cybercrime and emerging security threats as continuing challenges.
He also warned that geopolitical rivalries, unilateralism, the use of military force, unilateral sanctions, and the instrumentalization of economic and technological tools were creating serious concerns for developing countries and emerging economies.
Referring to developments in West Asia, including Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank, President Pezeshkian said disregard for international law and reliance on force and pressure threatened both regional and global stability.
He condemned the attacks carried out by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran on June 13, 2025 and February 28, 2026, describing them as violations of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law.
President Pezeshkian said Iran had resisted the attacks and expressed appreciation to the SCO and countries that condemned the aggression and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and government.
He said security and development were inseparable and urged the SCO to strengthen both its security and economic dimensions. Expanding intra-organizational trade, facilitating customs procedures, developing transport corridors, connecting ports and logistics hubs, increasing transit capacity and strengthening supply-chain resilience were among the priorities he outlined.
The president presented three Iranian initiatives: deeper financial and banking cooperation, including greater use of national currencies and eventually establishing an SCO bank; creation of an SCO export and investment insurance union; and establishment of an SCO Energy Consortium to strengthen energy security and cooperation in production, supply, transit and consumption.
President Pezeshkian also proposed establishing an SCO Strategic Security Studies Center to assess emerging threats and provide expert recommendations. Another Iranian initiative was the creation of an SCO Parliamentary Forum to promote inter-parliamentary dialogue and legislative cooperation.
He stressed that the future of multilateralism depended on maintaining dialogue and creating effective cooperation mechanisms. Iran, he said, was ready to play an active and constructive role in strengthening the SCO’s cohesion, efficiency and regional convergence.
The president further said that following 40 days of steadfast resistance and the failure of the United States to achieve its stated objectives, Washington was compelled to agree to a ceasefire. He said nearly three months of negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar produced the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU), but noted that the United States breached its commitments less than two weeks after signing it. President Pezeshkian declared that if Washington returned to its commitments, Iran would reciprocate immediately, in line with its commitments.
The president said diplomacy and negotiations without good faith, respect for commitments and rejection of the use of force cannot lead to lasting peace.