Iran joins the Shanghai based World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization as a founding member

Iran's Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and the Knowledge Based Economy announced on Saturday 1 August 2026 that Iran has joined the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization as a founding member. Emadeddin Fatemizadeh, head of the secretariat of the artificial intelligence technology development and application headquarters, said the organization's founding document was signed on behalf of the Iranian government, pursued by Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's ambassador to China.

According to his account, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, known by the acronym WAICO, is an independent intergovernmental body with a permanent headquarters in Shanghai, established to expand international cooperation, strengthen global governance of artificial intelligence and support the safe, responsible and equitable development of the technology. It was formed with 29 founding countries.

Under its founding document, the organization's agenda covers scientific, technological and policy cooperation on artificial intelligence, the exchange of experience, and capacity building among member states.