Japan Welcomes Iran’s Stance of Keeping Nuclear Deal

August 3, 2018

Singapore- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono praised on Thursday Iran's stance of sticking to its 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced the country's decision to quit the deal.

At a meeting in Singapore, Kono and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also exchanged views on the United States' request for various nations to halt crude oil imports from Iran.

Clarifying Japan's support for the nuclear deal, Kono said, "Iran's actions and roles are significant for helping maintain stability in the Middle East." Zarif hailed Japan's stance.

On the U.S. request for the halt to Iranian oil imports, Kono said that the matter is being discussed by relevant working-level officials of Japan and the United States.

Kono also asked for Iran's cooperation for the denuclearization of North Korea and the early resolution of the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago.

Kono and Zarif met on the fringe of a string of gatherings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Earlier on Thursday, Kono held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. They agreed on the need to steadily implement U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea in order to realize the denuclearization of the country. Jiji Press