Japanese PM calls Iran significant country

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that stability and peace in West Asia region would benefit not only the regional countries but the entire world.

According to Press TV, he said, "Japan seeks to play a maximum role to prevent tensions, and this has been the focus of my trip to Iran."

The Japanese PM said that Iran has been an important country in the Middle East, stressing that it’s necessary for Iran to continue playing its constructive role in order for the region to remain stable and does not face any confrontation.   

Abe, who is in Tehran on an official two-day visit, made the remarks at a joint press conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Japanese premier hailed a fatwa (religious decree) by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei prohibiting nuclear weapons.

He also welcomed Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IARA) as positive and expressed hope that Tehran would continue to act within the framework of the JCPOA in the future.

For his part, Rouhani praised the age-old relations between Iran and Japan and welcomed the Japanese government’s determination to expand relations with Iran in different fields.

He said that during several meetings with the Japanese side different issues were discussed, including Japan’s investment in southern Iran including Chabahar Port.

Rouhani said that Japan was interested in buying Iran’s oil, adding that this is appoint that can guarantee the expansion of relations between the two states.

“We are pleased that the two countries attach high significance to the stability and security of the region,” Rouhani said, noting that he told the top Japanese official that “Iran will never initiate a war in the region even with the US but if a possible war is waged against us we will give a crushing response” to invaders.

Rouhani praised Japan’s continued support of the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which is important for regional and world security.

He said that Iran was willing to remain in the JCPOA, adding that Iran welcomed cooperation with Japan in peaceful nuclear technology. Noting the both countries opposed nuclear weapons.

He said the “root cause if such tensions was in the US economic war against Iran,” adding,” whenever this war stops we will witness a very positive change in the region and the world.”

Rouhani described Japan as a very important country that has always taken good steps for the promotion of security and stability of our region.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono.

SS