Seasoned Iranian diplomat Mehrdad Kiaei has formally been introduced as the Islamic Republic's national coordinator to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s secretariat, IRNA reported yesterday.

During the 23rd SCO summit, hosted by India earlier this month, the Islamic Republic of Iran was officially accepted as the ninth full member of the regional security and economic alliance.

Established in 2001 by China and Russia to counter Western alliances, SCO also includes India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Speaking to IRNA’s foreign policy correspondent, Kiaei explained that his role as Iran's national coordinator involves coordinating the SCO's activities with domestic institutions.

Kiaei has previously served as a political advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a consultant in ministry’s departments of education and research, as well as a liaison officer at the Iranian Embassy in Italy.

Additionally, he has experience working in Iranian embassies in Moscow, Cairo and Brussels, according to IRNA.