First Vice President welcomes Iran's growing role in regional blocs ahead of the ECO Tehran Summit, Irana -. The first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, referring to the country's presence in blocs and regional associations, says that Iran maintains a serious and effective participation in bodies such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Araf made the remarks on Saturday at a planning meeting for the upcoming summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), a Eurasian political and economic intergovernmental organization, to be held in Tehran.
In a statement that fostering engagement and expanding relations with regional countries is a key strategy of the current administration, and especially a priority of President Masoud Pazhkian, he noted that Iran's standing within regional groups has improved significantly compared to the past.
He attributed the increase in interactions and cooperation to the approach and personal style of Pezhashkis, as well as the performance of executive bodies and mutually positive moves by the regional countries.
Referring to the ECO meeting in Iran, he said experience showed that the country achieves greater success at summits as a host, adding that officials from the participating countries consistently left Iran with a positive impression.
Regarding the ECO itself, Araf expressed disappointment that the 10-nation organization - initially formed by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey - has unfortunately failed to operate as efficiently as it should have since its inception in 1985.
According to him, the leaders of the member states should expand their activities to improve their cooperation within the ECO, and allow the organization to regain its proper regional status.