The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has issued a statement dismissing as “unacceptable" any use of force against Iran, saying that such a measure would threaten regional and global stability and security. "Any attempts to solve the Iranian problem with force are unacceptable and could lead to unpredictable circumstances that threaten stability and security in the region and the entire world," said the statement signed at the end of the 12th SCO summit in Beijing Thursday. The SCO statement expressed "serious concern about the situation around Iran." The United States and Israel have repeatedly threatened Tehran with a military strike in attempts to force Iran to halt its nuclear energy program, which they say has a military aspect despite being closely monitored by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran has adamantly rejected the Western publicity campaign, insisting that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to pursue nuclear technology for civilian applications. On Wednesday, Russia and China, two veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, opposed any use of military force and threats to do so as well as unilateral sanctions against Iran over the country's nuclear energy program. "Russia and China are against using military force or the threat of force against Iran, and do not approve of directing unilateral sanctions against it," said the two countries in a joint statement. Moscow and Beijing called for dialog to find a diplomatic solution regarding Iran's nuclear energy program.
