Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is expected to visit Japan later this month at the earliest for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Kono, it was learned.
Zarif is likely to exchange views with Japanese leaders on a U.S.-led maritime security initiative aimed at ensuring safety in waterways including the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan has been asked by the United States to take part in the initiative, but the Japanese government is cautiously considering how to respond to the request. Tokyo instead hopes to contribute to easing tensions between Washington and Tehran using Japan's traditional friendly relationship with Iran.
Zarif, who visited Japan in May to hold talks with Abe and Kono, is expected to convey to Japan a request to not join the U.S. initiative.
Iran has announced that it will expand its nuclear development program in early September, raising concerns that the U.S.-Iran situation may become even more unstable.
Abe and Kono will likely urge Zarif to ease tensions between Iran and the United States.
The Japanese government is hoping that Abe will hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in late September.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
