Iran, India Defense Ministers Attend SCO Summit in China Amid Regional Tensions

Iran's Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh made his first known international trip since the recent conflict with Israel by attending a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China. The gathering, hosted by Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, included representatives from multiple SCO member states such as India, Russia, Pakistan, and Belarus, and focused on enhancing regional security and cooperation. China emphasized a vision of global security countering unilateralism and hegemonic actions, calling for dialogue and peaceful coexistence between Iran and Israel amid ongoing tensions. Concurrently, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also traveled to China for the SCO summit, aiming to promote peace, security, and counter-terrorism efforts, reflecting warming ties between India and China after recent border conflicts. The meeting highlighted China's strategic role in the region and its interest in mediating tensions while supporting multilateral coordination among SCO members. Meanwhile, the U.S. under President Donald Trump indicated plans to engage with Iran on a potential nuclear agreement, underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.