DUSHANBE, August 17, Asia-Plus — On sidelines of the seventh summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Kyrgyz capital, President Emomali Rahmon held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Wednesday [August 15] evening, presidential press service said. 

State and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran were in the center of discussions.  The two, in particular, considered issues related to preparatory work for construction of the Santuda-2 power plant and a tunnel under the Chormaghzak pass, as well as cooperation in the fields such as border protection, development of information technologies, etc. 

The sides also discussed the latest regional and international developments.  On the regional cooperation, President Rahmon offered to hold the next meeting of the presidents of Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran.  The Tajik head of states spoke for peaceful settlement of the issue concerning the Iranian nuclear program and supported admission of Iran to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.