In an analysis, the Iranian weekly Sobh-e Sadeq, the mouthpiece of Iranian Supreme leader 'Ali Khamenei circulated among the Revolutionary Guards, called on Shanghai Alliance member countries to accept Iran as a member. Iran's membership, the paper said, would create a new regional strategic axis, to include Iran, Russia, and China – and this could reduce the West's political, security, and economic maneuvering ability in the region as well as in Asia.

Another article in the paper, "China in Iran's Foreign Policy" examines China's policy on Iran's nuclear issue in advance of next month's renewal of U.N. Security Council talks on the matter. According to the article, China, despite its common interests with Iran, will find it difficult to withstand the pressure of the West, due to the huge discrepancy in the scope of its trade with the U.S. as opposed to its trade with Iran.

Source: Sobh-e Sadeq, Iran, August 20, 2007