TIANJIN (Realist English). Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) issued a joint statement on Monday “strongly condemning” the US-Israeli attacks on Iran earlier this summer.
The statement described the June strikes, which targeted civilian infrastructure including nuclear energy facilities and caused civilian casualties, as “blatant violations” of international law, the UN Charter and Iran’s sovereignty. SCO leaders warned that such actions pose “serious threats to peace and stability,” with implications for both regional and global security.
The declaration underscored that nuclear facilities must remain protected even during armed conflicts to safeguard civilian populations and the environment. Citing UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) as the binding framework for addressing Iran’s nuclear issue, the SCO rejected “unilateral or arbitrary interpretations” of the resolution, stressing that such moves would damage the authority of the Security Council and erode trust in international law.
Alongside the condemnation of the Iran strikes, leaders also denounced Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and “efforts to revive Nazi ideology.” They reiterated their commitment to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism in all forms, cautioning that “double standards” in this area are unacceptable. The joint statement also rejected unilateral coercive measures, including economic sanctions, as illegitimate tools of pressure.
The two-day summit, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, opened in Tianjin on Monday with heads of state and delegations from across Asia and beyond. It is expected to adopt a 10-year development strategy for the bloc, which was founded in 2001 as a Eurasian political, security and economic alliance.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is attending the gathering, said before departing Tehran that the SCO offers “an opportunity to counter US and European unilateralism” and to build stronger frameworks for multilateral cooperation in trade, security and conflict resolution.
