Salehi: Iran-japan nuclear safety cooperation to continue
The head of Iran’s nuclear agency said that despite the ongoing US sanctions and efforts to isolate his country, Japan remains willing to continue cooperating with Iran on nuclear safety.
“The Japanese side insisted that under any circumstances they would like to continue their cooperation in the domain of safety,” Ali Akbar Salehi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told Kyodo News in an interview on the sidelines of a seminar in Brussels on Tuesday. Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
He said he understands Japan’s delicate position vis-avis the United States.
At the same time, he urged Japan to put aside “unnecessary caution” and restart, or even expand, cooperation with Iran in areas unaffected by unilateral US sanctions, such as the field of medical equipment and the “humanitarian side of the scientific technological cooperation.”
“We would like to see Japan play a more independent role. Japan can do a lot if it wishes. European Union some time to come up with a solution.
While Iran is starting to lose patience, Salehi said he had positive meetings in Brussels and is optimistic that the Europeans will find a way to pay for continued Iranian oil exports despite US sanctions affecting financial transactions.
He added that the two sides have agreed on a timeline.
Salehi said that if the nuclear deal breaks down, “The consequences will be unpredictable for everyone, even for us, for the international