Iran Moves to Join Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Iran has lodged a bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that comprises Russia, China and the four ex-Soviet Central Asian states, the country's foreign minister said on Monday.
The Islamic Republic, which currently holds an observer status in the regional security group, has long sought to become a full member of the SCO, seen as a counterbalance to U.S. and NATO influence in the region.

"Tajikistan supports us in this issue," Manouchehr Mottaki said after a meeting with the foreign ministers of SCO member Tajikistan and Afghanistan, which is another SCO observer along with India, Pakistan and Mongolia.
The bloc - which primarily addresses security issue but has recently moved to embrace energy projects - has indefinitely postponed accepting new members, but pledged closer cooperation with the observer states.
Both China and Russia have, however, major commercial interests in Iran. The energy-hungry Asian nation wants Iranian oil and gas and to sell weapons and other goods to the Islamic Republic. Moscow also hopes to sell more weapons and nuclear energy technology to Tehran. The Kremlin also needs Iran's endorsement for a multinational arrangement to exploit the Caspian Sea's energy resources.

Iran is still trying to form better ties with many other nations. This could posibaly be because of their growing nuclar program. This move was smart on behalf of the Irannians.

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Zimbabwe Receives Aid From Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to assist Zimbabwean educational and cultural institutions for the development and promotion of education and culture between the two countries, a senior Iranian Embassy official said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the presentation of a book donation worth more than $35 billion to the University of Zimbabwe Library yesterday, the Head of the Cultural Section at the Iranian embassy Mr Mohammed Hassan Ipakchi said he hoped the books would benefit the people.


"Our country is ready to co-operate with various educational and cultural institutions in Zimbabwe. "The books we are donating are from a list we received from the University of Zimbabwe and we hope they are going to benefit the people of Zimbabwe as a whole," said Mr Ipakchi. The acting Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Dr Witmore Mujaji thanked the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its long-standing support to the University.

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This article shows Iran in a gentler, more benevolent light. Though Iran has been having several problems with the United States and Israel, they have been active in assisting Zimbabwe with cultural and educational expansion.

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