U.S. backs Abe’s visit to Iran

June 13, 2019

Washington--The United States on Wednesday threw its support behind a visit to Iran by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to help ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.

"Whatever the Japanese prime minister is able to do, we of course are supportive of anyone," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told a press conference.

"We are in full agreement and full alignment with our allies" over policy toward Iran, Ortagus said.

She said that the United States hopes that allies will continue to send a message to Iran that military confrontation will not be tolerated.

In Tehran on Wednesday, Abe held talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and urged the country to play a constructive role for regional peace and stability. At a joint press conference after the meeting, Abe said that a military clash "must be avoided at all costs." Jiji Press