The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has launched a five-day joint anti-terrorism exercise codenamed Sahand-2025 in Iran’s northwest province of East Azarbaijan under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Commander of the drills Brigadier General Vali Ma’dani announced the official launch of the exercise at a press conference on Tuesday saying it aims to strengthen coordination among SCO members in combating terrorism.
“SCO member states Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan, Iran, India and Belarus are participating in the drills,” said the IRGC Commander.
“Representative of neighbouring countries Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iraq are participating as guest observers,” he added.
He said Sahand-2025 was planned under instructions by General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry and SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
In 2023, Iran became a full member of The Shanghai Cooperation Organization which is a Eurasian body of 10 member states. As a regional organisation, it fosters political, economic, international security and counter-terrorism cooperation.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that hosting the Sahand-2025 anti-terror exercise is “an act of coalition-building in line with the new architecture of regional security”.
He said the exercise reflects Tehran’s efforts to contribute to a new regional security framework while Iran’s long experience in combating terrorism can help harmonise practices among SCO member states.
“Iran has gained valuable experience in confronting all forms of terrorism, and the drills provide a platform for transferring and harmonizing experiences among the SCO member states,” the Iranian diplomat said.
Iran has used its membership in international and regional organisations to increase trade and security cooperation as well as to gain support for its civilian nuclear program.
Last November, prime ministers of SCO in a joint statement issued in Moscow backed Iran’s right of peaceful nuclear energy and rejected the western pressure on Tehran to freeze its enrichment capability.
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