Tehran/Beijing, July 14, 2025 – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has left Tehran for Tianjin, China where he will attend an upcoming meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers on July 15. Invited by Wang Yi of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Araqchi’s visit highlights Tehran’s increasing diplomatic ties within this Eurasian security and economic bloc.
Agenda and Context for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Under China’s chairmanship, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting gathers diplomats from each of its nine full members (China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Uzbekistan (and Iran after 2023), observers, dialogue partners, as well as observers from foreign states not part of SCO), observers from outside and dialogue partners as observers/dialogue partners/observers to prepare for and finalize arrangements for an SCO Summit Heads of State Summit as well as coordinate on regional security/economic integration/global cooperation matters. Tasnim News/PressTV/Global Cooperation
Esmaeil Baqaei of Iran’s Foreign Ministry noted that Araqchi will go beyond multilateral coordination to expand bilateral conversations and meet with Wang Yi and regional counterparts regularly in order to articulate Iran’s policy priorities and its positions on relevant regional developments.
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Tehran’s Diplomatic Strategy
Since becoming a full SCO member, Iran has made use of this region-wide group to strengthen economic and security ties in Asia. Araqchi’s visit is similar to one made earlier this summer to Moscow by Iranian diplomats seeking to diversify their diplomatic portfolio due to stalled negotiations with Western powers.
Iran’s presence at Tianjin confirms its desire to strengthen “South-South” cooperation and unite key non-Western powers. According to Chinese sources, Beijing expects “in-depth talks… on deepening political mutual trust between Iran and China as well as widening SCO cooperation”. Mehr News Agency can vouch for that.
Regional Significance
Tianjin marks an historic moment. SCO members face complex security and economic tensions stemming from Afghanistan’s crisis, cross-border terrorism, Central Asia’s instability and evolving energy partnerships. Nations are contemplating ways of working collaboratively towards finding solutions while at the same time exploring deeper integration of regional infrastructure initiatives to reduce Western dependence.
Iran hopes to gain leverage through Economic and Transport projects undertaken under SCO auspices while simultaneously building political momentum to counter U.S. influence. Tianjin will serve as an ideal venue to discuss ongoing nuclear diplomacy and U.S. sanctions, with Tehran seeking Beijing’s assistance in managing Washington pressure.
Bilateral Horizons Araqchi’s meetings with Chinese counterparts could prove vital in refreshing Iran-China bilateral diplomacy. He described China in April as “strategic and trustworthy partner”, applauding their 25-year cooperation framework, with dialogue likely continuing around energy trade, infrastructure investment, regional coordination as part of Tianjin visit. Al Mayadeen English/Big News Network will cover these developments live.
Diplomatic Implications Prior to Leadership Summit
While the Tianjin meeting may only serve as an initial preparatory meeting, its results will set the scene for later this year’s SCO leaders summit, where Iran hopes to advocate for stronger collective mechanisms in security, trade, energy and connectivity while seeking to increase its regional standing through robust multilateral diplomacy.
Bottom Line
Iranian FM Abbas Araqchi’s trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministerial is testament to Tehran’s ambitions for deeper integration into Eurasian security and economic frameworks. Through bilateral diplomacy as well as bloc-wide coordination, Iran hopes to secure political backing, boost regional cooperation, assert influence while furthering their interests on issues like sanctions or nuclear negotiations.