At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged to reciprocate any U.S. move to reinstate a ceasefire agreement reached in June aimed at ending ongoing hostilities between Tehran and Washington. Pezeshkian cautioned that diplomatic efforts could be compromised by continued “pressure and threats” from the United States.
The June deal, intended to pave the way for comprehensive peace negotiations, has largely collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations by both sides. Pezeshkian emphasized that a return by the U.S. to a hardline approach risked derailing dialogue, while signaling Iran’s readiness to immediately respond if Washington re-engaged with the accord.
During the summit, Pezeshkian expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s support throughout the conflict. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the gathering, which included leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pezeshkian described Iran’s relationship with Russia as strategic, not merely transactional.
Putin, for his part, praised Iran’s “courage and resilience” in protecting its national interests and affirmed Russian efforts to provide necessary assistance. He highlighted sustained development in trade and economic ties despite global sanctions and ongoing military and political pressures on both nations. Russia and Iran have deepened their cooperation amid heavy sanctions imposed by Western countries, especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began more than four years ago.
The conflict between Iran and the United States intensified in late February following U.S. and Israeli strikes that targeted Tehran’s military leadership, including the killing of Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. After more than a month of relative calm, both sides exchanged fire again on Monday, with tensions escalating near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Tehran continues to maintain its closure of the waterway but has indicated willingness to lift restrictions and abide by the terms of the June agreement if the U.S. reciprocates.
The SCO summit occurred amid a complex geopolitical landscape, marked by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and its deepening economic dependence on China. Although Ukraine was not publicly addressed during the meeting, Putin held a lengthy discussion with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has facilitated several rounds of peace talks on the conflict.
Chinese President Xi Jinping described Sino-Russian relations as increasingly solid and promising, while Putin underscored the evolution of cooperation on multiple fronts. He also emphasized the emergence of new multilateral structures that complement the United Nations within a “multipolar world.”
The SCO currently comprises 10 full members and has expanded its influence through dialogue partnerships with 15 countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as well as observer states Afghanistan and Mongolia. The organization, historically focused on economic collaboration, has broadened its scope under the leadership of Russia and China in recent years.