TEHRAN, 13 Oct0ber 2015: Implementation of the historic nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers will open new gates for cooperation between Tehran and Tokyo, the visiting Japanese foreign minister said here on Monday.
After meeting his Iranian counterpart, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said they had “investigated the ways to open a new chapter in our relations seizing the opportunities that nuclear deal has provided.”
Under the comprehensive deal agreed on July 14 by Iran and six world major countries, including Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany, Iran would improve the transparency of its nuclear plan while freezing some of its nuclear activities in exchange for international and western sanctions relief.
Kishida’s visit on Monday is the first time since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution by a Japanese foreign minister, who is accompanied by a big business delegation.
His meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif on Monday was also very significant in that they held “open and useful” talks together, he said.
They agreed to cooperate on the safety and transparency of nuclear activities following the implementation of the nuclear deal, Kishida said.
Tehran and Tokyo also agreed to set up a council to effectively observe the cooperation between both countries’ ministries in different areas, he added.
Iran and Japan will also continue their current cooperation on environmental and health issues as well as campaign against illicit drugs, he said.
Zarif expressed his hope that the participation of Japanese investors in Iran’s economic, environmental and nuclear sectors will further broaden the mutual ties.
A number of officials from Western countries have recently visited Tehran, trying to thaw ties and restore economic cooperation.
