Japan PM Plans Iran Visit in July
TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering a state visit to Iran in July as Tokyo is seeking to strengthen economic ties with Tehran, government sources have said.
The visit may take place as early as mid-July as part of the Japanese premier's tour of the Middle East and Europe, Kyodon News reported, noting that the itinerary will be announced soon.
"If realized, it will be the first trip to Iran by a sitting Japanese prime minister since Takeo Fukuda visited the country in 1978," the news agency said.
Abe is expected to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and ensure him of Tokyo's continued support for the Iran nuclear deal despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the landmark multinational agreement on May 8, it said.
Abe reiterated Japan’s support for the deal in his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a trip to the occupied Palestinian lands in May.
Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of the deal known as the JCPOA, called it a "bad agreement", but Abe said the accord was necessary to ensure stability in the Middle East, according to Zionist media reports.
The visit may take place as early as mid-July as part of the Japanese premier's tour of the Middle East and Europe, Kyodon News reported, noting that the itinerary will be announced soon.
"If realized, it will be the first trip to Iran by a sitting Japanese prime minister since Takeo Fukuda visited the country in 1978," the news agency said.
Abe is expected to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and ensure him of Tokyo's continued support for the Iran nuclear deal despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the landmark multinational agreement on May 8, it said.
Abe reiterated Japan’s support for the deal in his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a trip to the occupied Palestinian lands in May.
Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of the deal known as the JCPOA, called it a "bad agreement", but Abe said the accord was necessary to ensure stability in the Middle East, according to Zionist media reports.