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Zhao Ziwen

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has warned against external “interference” in Iran’s governance, offering support to Tehran in a thinly veiled rebuke of Washington.
In a statement issued on Friday, the security bloc led by China and Russia expressed “grave concern” over the “recent tragic events in the Islamic Republic of Iran”, saying they had caused “casualties among civilians and law enforcement officials”.
“The SCO opposes interference in the internal affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said, while calling for “a peaceful resolution of the current situation through political and diplomatic measures”.
“The SCO adheres to the principles of respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states and the non-use of force or threat of force in international relations,” the statement added.


Iran has been gripped by some of its largest nationwide protests since late last year, fuelled by a deepening economic crisis and record inflation that has sent food prices soaring.
At least 2,400 people have been killed since the protests erupted on December 28, according to human rights groups, although Tehran has not published any official casualty figures.
US President Donald Trump’s warning of potential US military action against Iran this month further escalated tensions, as he vowed that the US Army would intervene if the regime killed protesting civilians, telling “Iranian patriots” via social media on Tuesday that “help is on its way”.
But on Wednesday, Trump said he had been informed that “the killing in Iran has stopped”, signalling Washington’s intent to de-escalate despite not ruling out military action against the regime.
The SCO – founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to counter post-Soviet instability in Central Asia – has evolved into a key Global South platform. Its 10 full member states and 17 dialogue partners now represent nearly 40 per cent of the global population.
Iran became an official member of the security bloc in 2023.
The SCO had also spoken up for Iran following US air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June, condemning the attacks and calling for de-escalation.
In a statement on June 23, the bloc described the US attacks as “a gross violation of the norms and principles of international law”, and called for “settlement through political and diplomatic means”.
China has consistently backed Iran amid the Islamic Republic’s escalating tensions with the United States.
Any military adventurism will only plunge the region into an unpredictable abyss
Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN
Foreign Minister Wang Yi called his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, reaffirming Beijing’s support.
Also on Thursday, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, Sun Lei, underlined the country’s support for Iran’s “sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity”.
Addressing a Security Council meeting where tensions over Iran’s protests dominated the agenda, Sun called upon the international community to “support the Iranian government and people in overcoming current difficulties and maintaining national security and social stability”.
He also took a veiled swipe at Washington, warning that “any military adventurism will only plunge the region into an unpredictable abyss”.
“History has repeatedly demonstrated that placing blind faith in military force, resorting solely to pressure tactics, and engaging in reckless interference only serve to breed further conflict and animosity,” Sun said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
“No nation possesses the authority to dictate the destiny of another, and no action that places itself above international law can be permitted.”


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Security bloc expresses ‘grave concern’ over ‘tragic events’ as Iran is rocked by protests, calls for ‘political and diplomatic’ resolution


Security bloc expresses ‘grave concern’ over ‘tragic events’ as Iran is rocked by protests, calls for ‘political and diplomatic’ resolution.


China-led SCO warns against Iran ‘interference’ in veiled swipe at US

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Security bloc expresses ‘grave concern’ over ‘tragic events’ as Iran is rocked by protests, calls for ‘political and diplomatic’ resolution

Security bloc expresses ‘grave concern’ over ‘tragic events’ as Iran is rocked by protests, calls for ‘political and diplomatic’ resolution