Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS to strengthen their independence in decision-making and translate political agreements into practical cooperation, warning that allowing US political agenda to influence their decisions could weaken the groups’ cohesion and collective power.
President Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with the SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit and the Caspian Sea environmental summit in Turkmenistan on Friday.
The Iranian president said expanded multilateral engagement and regular consultations could help member states develop and implement common strategies across financial, economic, trade, security and political fields.
While describing the SCO summit as constructive, President Pezeshkian stressed that dialogue and declarations must lead to tangible results. He said agreements reached by heads of state should be implemented to promote development and strengthen cooperation among member countries and their institutions.
He also highlighted the importance of establishing a shared understanding and common principles among nations, saying these were essential to sustainable development, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. President Pezeshkian told the SCO secretary-general that coordinating the implementation of decisions was a significant responsibility and expressed hope that the organization would make further progress toward its objectives.
Addressing the influence of the United States on international organizations, President Pezeshkian said some SCO positions could be affected by US policies shaped by domestic political considerations. He argued that the purpose of platforms such as the SCO and BRICS was to enable participating countries to establish common frameworks for action.
“If the domestic policies of a country such as the United States are allowed to influence the decisions of these summits, these organizations will lose their power and cohesion,” the Iranian president said.
President Pezeshkian described the choice between unilateralism and multilateralism as a central challenge facing the international community. He criticized countries that follow unilateral policies and pressure-based approaches instead of strengthening cooperation with their neighbors.
He also called for dialogue rather than confrontation, arguing that disputes could not be resolved through intimidation or the use of force. Countries, he said, should cooperate to ensure that people everywhere can live in security, health and prosperity, while respecting one another’s sovereignty and resources.
The president urged nations to work together to prevent powerful countries from imposing their will on others, adding that Iran remained committed to its principles.
The SCO secretary-general agreed that the organization should serve as a platform for turning the decisions of national leaders into action. He said the organization had achieved tangible results during its 25 years of activity, including the implementation of agreements previously recorded on paper.
However, he acknowledged that proposals without clear frameworks or practical mechanisms could not be implemented effectively. He emphasized the need for national coordinators to follow up on initiatives and noted that consensus among members was necessary for decisions to proceed.
The secretary-general also observed that some member states prioritized bilateral relations over broader cooperation within the organization, creating potential inconsistencies with shared policies.
Yermekbayev called for a review of agreements concerning Iran that had not yet been implemented, so they could be pursued through ambassadors and national representatives. He reaffirmed the SCO’s commitment to peace, respect for territorial integrity and refraining from the use of force, while stressing the right of all countries to peaceful nuclear energy under the principle of nuclear non-proliferation.