Why it matters:
Iran has revived the long-dormant Meeting of Interior Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), signaling a renewed push for regional partnership. The participation of ten member states underscores growing interest in coordinated approaches to security, border management, and local-level cooperation across the ECO region.
The big picture:
The summit comes at a time when ECO countries face shared challenges, including border security, organized crime, migration, and regional stability. Iran aims to broaden the traditional agenda by incorporating border diplomacy as well as economic, urban, and cultural collaboration through municipalities. With the Ministry of Interior overseeing both borders and local governance, Iranian officials see sister-city engagement as a potential engine for regional connectivity and trust-building.
What he’s saying:
The Ministry of Interior spokesperson, Ali Zeinivand, said the ECO Interior Ministers' Meeting will include both bilateral and multilateral sessions.
“Several delegations have requested bilateral meetings with senior Iranian officials and the Minister of Interior,” he noted, adding that these are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
He also highlighted that discussions will cover more than security issues: “In addition to security, policing, law enforcement and border matters, economic, urban and cultural diplomacy will also be on the table. Municipalities and sister-city exchanges are an important capacity we intend to activate more vigorously,” he said, emphasizing the role of provincial governors in border diplomacy.
Go deeper:
President Returns to Tehran After Attending ECO Summit in Azerbaijan
President: ECO Summit a Platform for Advancing Regional Cooperation
F.abedi - seyed mohammad kazemi
