Raeisi at SCO: Ditching dollar key to shaping fair international system

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has warned against the dominance of the dollar in global exchanges, saying de-dollarization is a pivotal necessity to form a just international system.

Raeisi made the remarks in an address to the 23rd virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) after Iran gained full-fledged membership in the bloc.

He said cooperation among the SCO member states in the economic fields can “open a clear vision of a just regional order” to the eyes of world nations.

Based on the past decades' experience, he said, militarism and the dominance of the dollar form the bases of the Western domination system.

“Therefore any attempt to shape a fair international system requires the removal of this instrument of dominance in intra-regional relations,” the Iranian president pointed out.

He noted that civilization is the greatest capacity of the SCO member countries to build unity and peace.

He stressed the importance of promoting a civilization in this “ancient” continent based on ethics, spirituality, justice, rationality, and respect for human dignity.

“The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is a symbol of this “great family of civilizations”, is now standing in a position that can establish new horizons of regional convergence and security-building cooperation,” Raeisi stated.

Iran gains full Shanghai Cooperation Organization membership

Iran officially becomes a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Pointing to the desecration of the Holy Qur’an in some European countries, he emphasized the need to respect the “values and sanctities of the nations” as a “unifying principle”.

The Iranian president said the desecration of the Holy Qur’an caused hatred and spread insecurity, which should be dealt with by displaying unity among civilized nations.

In a repeated and state-authorized instance of desecration of the Muslim holy book, two men stood outside the central mosque in Stockholm on Wednesday and burned a copy of the holy book following a go-ahead given by a Swedish court.

The move was made to coincide with the Muslim festivity of Eid al-Adha, which marks the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage that is partaken by millions of Muslims from across the world.

Many Arab and Muslim countries have condemned the move.

Iran FM hails ‘new achievement’

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also said via Twitter that the active diplomacy of the Raeisi administration secured a “new achievement” for Iran.

He said Iran’s membership in the SCO is “an important step” to materialize the administration’s inclusive foreign policy and strengthen its neighborliness and look-toward-Asia policies.

“As the ninth member of the SCO, we strive to promote cooperation, achieve goals, and secure the full benefits,” he said.

The foreign minister added that multilateralism is the fundamental strategy of the countries leading in the development of foreign relations and international cooperation.

Raeisi: Muslims will never overlook desecration of Holy Qur’an

President Raeisi said the move has not only upset two billion Muslims but also the followers of all divine religions.

'No double standards to terrorism'

Addressing the summit, the Indian prime minister said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should join hands to fight terrorism and not hesitate to condemn countries that support terror.

Modi also called on leaders of the Eurasian political and security grouping to work for the welfare of Afghanistan and provide humanitarian aid to Kabul.

He also congratulated Iran on becoming a full member of the alliance and conveyed his "best wishes to President Ebrahim Raeisi and the people of Iran."

'SCO should protect regional peace'

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the SCO leaders to work to "protect regional peace and ensure security."

He said the SCO member states should "follow the right direction and enhance their solidarity and mutual trust".

He stressed the importance of focusing on pragmatic cooperation and accelerating economic recovery, and pledged to work with SCO member states to "oppose protectionism."

China would “persist in the correct direction of economic globalization, oppose protectionism, unilateral sanctions and extension of national security concept,” Xi said.

'Russia to counter all pressures'

Russian President Vladimir Putin also reiterated his country's opposition to Western sanctions and said Moscow would counter "all these external sanctions and pressures" and continue to "develop as never before".

Putin also backed trade accords between SCO nations in local currencies in an attempt to blunt sanctions.

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