Iran urges China-led bloc to unite against sanctions pressure

Iran is urging members of the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to strengthen legal cooperation in response to international sanctions affecting several member states, a senior official said during a visit to China on Tuesday.

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said judicial systems within the SCO can play a key role in holding sanctioning countries accountable through legal mechanisms.

“The issue of legal discussions related to unilateral sanctions is on the agenda,” Gharibabadi said, adding that the Iranian delegation is pursuing “a more coordinated and multilateral approach” within the SCO.

The SCO includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and several Central Asian countries.