Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Rouhani discuss Iran nuclear deal

Tokyo: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday called on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, urging him to stick to the commitments made under the 2015 nuclear agreement, of which the US withdrew last year.

During a meeting between Abe and Rouhani in Tokyo, the Japanese Prime Minister expressed his wishes that Iran “play a constructive role” for the maintenance of peace in the Middle East, Efe news reported.

He also requested Tehran to fully respect the agreement on the Iran nuclear program that was signed in 2015 by the Iranian government and several world powers.

During the meeting, Rouhani also vowed to keep the 2015 nuclear agreement in force and took the opportunity to condemn the US for leaving the pact last year.

“The nuclear agreement is extremely important for Iran. That is why we strongly condemn the unilateral and irrational withdrawal from the United States,” said Rouhani, who also expressed his hope that “Japan and other countries make efforts” to maintain the pact.

Rouhani is on a two-day visit to Japan, the first held by a head of state of the Islamic Republic in about two decades. The Iranian leader arrived in Tokyo from Malaysia, where he participated this week in a summit of Islamic countries in Kuala Lumpur.

Rouhani’s public agenda included the interview with Abe and a subsequent gala dinner. In his daily press conference, Yoshihide Suga, Japanese government spokesman, said that the intention of the Japanese government is to “meticulously” explain to Iran the measures to ensure sea navigation on key routes in the Persian Gulf. (IANS)

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