iran has observer status in the organisation, and applied for full membership on 24 march 2008. however, because it was under sanctions levied by the united nations at the time, it was blocked from admission as a new member. the sco stated that any country under un sanctions could not be admitted. after the un sanctions were lifted, chinese president xi jinping announced its support for iran's full membership in sco during a state visit to iran in january 2016.