Larijani: Iran, Japan need to take bigger steps in relations
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Iran and Japan need to take bigger steps to boost ties. Larijani made the remarks in a meeting with members of Japan’s House of Councilors in Tokyo on Tuesday.
He said some countries may seek to damage relations between the two countries, stressing that “we should not allow them to do so”.
“Because of having close culture, there has been no tension between Iran and Japan in the history”, the Iranian top parliamentarian said, adding that there is a positive viewpoint towards Japan in Iran.
He emphasized that Tehran welcomes expansion of economic ties between the two countries, saying that “there is a suitable ground for Japan’s investment in Iran’s oil, gas, petrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors”.
Larijani also hailed Tokyo’s stance on preserving Iran nuclear deal. However he said that practical steps should be taken in this regard.
During the meeting, President of Japanese House of Councilors Chuichi Date stressed that Japan supports Iran nuclear deal, from which the United States has pulled out in May and reimposed sanctions against Tehran.
Following the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono expressed his country’s support for the deal.
The Japanese official said that the visit of the Iranian delegation to Tokyo after almost nine years marks the start of a new chapter of bilateral ties between the two countries.
Chuichi Date described Iran as a major country with a rich culture in West Asia.
Larijani, heading a high-ranking delegation, left Tehran for Japan on Monday morning at the official invitation of Chuichi Date.
Japan is among those countries which have been exempted from US sanctions against Iran and can buy Iran’s oil.
Iran and Japan have ramped up efforts in recent years to boost bilateral relations in diverse political and economic fields.