Iran in Japan hits US N-deal pullout
TOKYO, Dec 21, (Agencies): Iranian President Hassan Rouhani renewed his condemnation of the US for withdrawing from a nuclear agreement and asked for Japan’s help in efforts to maintain the deal as the two leaders met in Tokyo amid a continuing impasse between Tehran and Washington.
Rouhani, the first Iranian president to visit Japan in 19 years, told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the nuclear agreement with world powers remained crucial. Iran, however, has gradually been violating the terms of the agreement.
“The nuclear deal is an extremely important agreement, and that’s why I strongly condemn the United States’ one-sided and irrational withdrawal,” Rouhani said through a translator. “We hope that Japan and other countries in the world will make efforts toward maintaining the agreement.”
Abe, in his opening remarks, urged Iran to fully comply with the agreement and play a constructive role in achieving peace and stability in the region. Abe expressed concern about rising tensions in the Middle East and pledged to do as much as possible to help restore regional stability.
“I strongly expect that Iran will fully comply with the nuclear agreement and play a constructive role for peace and stability in the region,” Abe said.
During closed-door talks, Abe expressed “grave concerns” over Iran’s resumption of nuclear activities and urged Rouhani “to stop such acts,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Naoki Okada later told reporters. Abe also stressed the importance for Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog.
A group of independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council called Friday for Iran to release all people detained during recent unrest. They said they are “shocked” by reports that suggest prisoners are being tortured or otherwise abused.
In a joint statement issued by more than a dozen of the human rights experts, the group said that of an estimated 200,000 people who took part in recent protests in Iran, some 7,000 are believed to have been arrested and that thousands remain in detention.