Iranian FM Araghchi holds bilateral talks on SCO sidelines

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. During these meetings, he exchanged views with his counterparts on bilateral relations and regional and international developments.

Araghchi held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov, and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. In his meeting with Ryzhenkov, the two sides reviewed the growing trend of bilateral relations and assessed the implementation of agreements and cooperation documents between Tehran and Minsk, particularly the 2026–2030 cooperation program between the two countries' foreign ministries. They emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of the agreements already signed and discussed the latest regional and international developments.

The Iranian and Belarusian foreign ministers also underlined the importance of strengthening multilateralism, countering unilateral coercive measures, and making greater use of the SCO's capacities to expand political, economic, and trade cooperation. Araghchi arrived in Cholpon-Ata late on Thursday to participate in the SCO foreign ministers' meeting.

According to Mehr News Agency, the meetings focused on enhancing bilateral ties and addressing key regional and global challenges. The SCO, which includes Iran as a member, provides a platform for dialogue on security, economic cooperation, and multilateralism.