Iran will look to join an Asian security group headed up by Russia and China in a move that further solidifies ties between the countries and aims to limit Western influence in the region."By signing the document for full membership of the [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], now Iran has entered a new stage of various economic, commercial, transit and energy cooperation," foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian wrote of the agreement. Iran on Thursday signed a memorandum of obligations to join the group, which meets this week in Uzbekistan, Reuters reported. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attended the event, during which he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.