Cousinia saloukensis, a narrow endemic from NE Iran, is described as a species new to science, illustrated and its affinities are discussed. A high morphological similarity between the new species and the eastern members (mainly in E Afghanistan) of C. sect. Eriocousinia is contradicted by a relationship with species of sect. Serratuloides revealed in a previous nrITS phylogeny. In view of the incongruent molecular and morphological evidences, the new species is, for the time being, not assigned to any of the known sections.