U.S. welcomes Japan’s mediation efforts over Iran

May 30, 2019

Washington--U.S. Department of State spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on Wednesday hailed moves by Japan to help ease tensions between the United States and Iran.

"We welcome the efforts by any country, whether it's Japan, whether it's our European allies, to help de-escalate the situation," she told a press conference.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering a visit to Iran next month to act as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.

"We encourage all of our allies, including Japan, to remind Iran that we do not want to see them get a nuclear weapon, that we do not want to see them fomenting terrorism and paying for terrorism around the world," Ortagus said.

"If the Japanese would like to reiterate that message on our behalf, we certainly welcome it," she added. Jiji Press