Iran Secures Chairmanship of 21st SCO Judicial Summit 2026: A Milestone for International Cooperation

In a significant announcement, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, revealed that Tehran will host the 21st Summit of Chief Justices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in 2026. This upcoming event follows the recent 20th Summit, which took place in Hangzhou, China.

The 20th Summit of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of SCO member states commenced on Monday, with a delegation from Iran led by Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei. This meeting provided an opportunity for member states to discuss various legal and judicial matters of mutual interest.

Upon the conclusion of the summit, Gharibabadi shared on his X account that Mohseni-Ejei was unanimously elected to preside over the next session of the summit in 2026. This election signifies Iran’s growing influence within the SCO framework.

During the summit, Mohseni-Ejei engaged in bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from eight countries, namely:

• China
• India
• Pakistan
• Turkey
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Uzbekistan
• Tajikistan

These discussions focused on enhancing and expanding judicial cooperation among the member states.

Gharibabadi also highlighted key proposals put forth by Iran’s Judiciary Chief during the summit. These proposals included:

• The creation of a judicial information-sharing platform to expedite criminal prosecutions.
• Harmonization of legal frameworks to combat terrorism.
• Expansion of judicial diplomacy in the field of cybercrime.
• The establishment of an international arbitration center to resolve commercial disputes.
• Concerted efforts to combat human trafficking.

After a two-day visit to China, Mohseni-Ejei emphasized the importance of strengthening communication and cooperation among countries that aim to uphold justice, peace, and sustainable global security. He stated that through collective consultation and coordination, nations can effectively resist the imposition of will by hegemonic powers.

Highlighting the urgency of fostering deeper partnerships, Mohseni-Ejei pointed out several factors that necessitate closer ties among nations with shared interests:

• The accelerating pace of technological advancements.
• Widespread global connectivity.
• The rise of unilateral policies by certain authoritarian states.

He remarked, “It is evident that the stronger countries’ ties become in political, economic, and security areas, the more judicial cooperation and interaction must also be expanded and strengthened.”

Describing the SCO as a major international body with vast geographic and demographic capacity, Mohseni-Ejei noted that the summit served as a platform to discuss a broad range of regional and international issues pertinent to the judicial institutions of member states.

“In this summit,” he stated, “while pointing to certain legal gaps in the field of judicial affairs, proposals were made to better serve the member countries, and opportunities and challenges related to artificial intelligence were also reviewed, with members presenting their views on the subject.”

Mohseni-Ejei characterized his bilateral engagements in China as “constructive discussions,” emphasizing that valuable dialogues were held on judicial, intelligence, and security matters.

With over 40 percent of the global population represented, the SCO stands as the world’s largest regional organization in terms of geographic span and population. Member countries are actively working to enhance cooperation across various sectors, including economic, political, security, defense, and legal-judicial areas. As the organization continues to evolve, it is becoming an essential platform for regional integration.

Leading a high-ranking judicial delegation, Mohseni-Ejei traveled to Hangzhou, China, on Monday to participate in the 20th Assembly of Heads of Judicial Systems of SCO Member States. He returned to Tehran on Wednesday following the conclusion of the summit.

This pivotal event underscores Iran’s commitment to fostering judicial cooperation and enhancing its role within international legal frameworks, paving the way for future collaboration among SCO member states.