There are no obstacles to Iran becoming a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) after its nuclear issue was resolved, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) � On Friday, the UN Security Council held a session on�the issue of�the organization�s cooperation with�regional formats such as�the SCO, the Commonwealth of�Independent States and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

"We consider there are no obstacles left for�a positive consideration of�its [Iran�s] membership application after�the resolution of�the situation on�Iran�s nuclear program and lifting of�the UN sanctions," Churkin said.

The SCO is a political, economic and military alliance that includes Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Belarus, Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan hold observer status in�the organization, while Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Armenia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka hold status of�dialogue partners. Pakistan, India and Iran have officially applied for�SCO membership. Since 2008, Russia has been advocating the idea of�Iran's SCO membership, but�the process had been complicated by�the sanctions regime against�Tehran, which has been lifted recently.

By Sputnik