President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to take decisive and transparent steps toward fostering global peace and enhancing economic cooperation.
Pezeshkian, who arrived in the Chinese city of Tianjin a day earlier, delivered a speech on Monday at the 25th SCO Heads of State Summit, emphasizing the organization’s pivotal role in shaping a multipolar world order and urging member states to pursue parallel strategies for peace-building and financial integration.
To counter the effects of unilateral sanctions, Pezeshkian introduced the SCO special accounts and settlements mechanism.
This initiative, he said, seeks to reduce dependence on the US dollar by promoting trade settlements in national currencies.
It also advocates for the development of shared digital infrastructure and the adoption of central bank digital currencies to facilitate secure and rapid transactions, said Pezeshkian.
Additionally, the plan includes the creation of a multilateral currency swap fund to support member states facing liquidity crises or external economic pressure, he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, President Pezeshkian condemned recent military actions against Iran by the United States and Israel, as well as the ongoing violence in Gaza, describing them as stark failures of the current global governance system.
These developments underscore the urgent need for a new model of international cooperation rooted in justice and mutual respect, he said.
Pezeshkian welcomed proposals to establish specialized centers to combat transnational threats, including drug trafficking and terrorism.
He endorsed the creation of rapid response mechanisms for crises and strategic research hubs to guide policy development.
The president further advocated for expanding the organization’s official languages to foster inclusivity and deeper cultural exchange.
As to the infrastructure front, Pezeshkian announced that Iran’s Chabahar Port will soon be linked to the national railway network, significantly enhancing connectivity between China, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Indian Ocean.
Iran views the SCO’s 10-year development strategy as a historic opportunity to deepen cooperation across key sectors, including infrastructure, technology, energy, digital economy, climate change, culture, and science.
Heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, the president left Tehran earlier in the day at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Delivering a speech at the SCO summit, meeting with Xi, and holding talks with other leaders and officials on the sidelines of the gathering are part of President Pezeshkian’s schedule during his visit to China.
