Japan has called on the Iranian authorities to cease supplying weaponry from Russia for the conflict against Ukraine, amid Western suspicions that Tehran is supporting Moscow with various types of drones.
This appeal was articulated by Japan's Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on Monday, August 7, as reported by Kyodo.
During their joint meeting, the officials urged Iran to provide a "constructive response" to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. They also agreed to continue discussions on pivotal issues concerning the Middle East.
"Their talks occurred as Western countries alleged that Iran is furnishing military assistance to Russia, including drones and munitions, while Tokyo seeks to leverage its longstanding rapport with Tehran to help terminate the conflict," the media remarked.
In addition, a significant topic of the discussion was Iran's nuclear activities. Japan expressed "grave concerns" and called on Tehran to collaborate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Hayashi emphasized that Tokyo endorses the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and urged Tehran to return to the accord.
In response, Amir-Abdollahian conveyed Iran's readiness to cooperate with Japan on this matter and indicated that Iran's participation in the JCPOA is subject to "negotiations."
It is noteworthy that Amir-Abdollahian's visit to Japan commenced on Sunday, August 6. He is the first Iranian Foreign Minister to visit the country since President Ebrahim Raisi assumed office in August 2021.
This year, Japan took on the presidency of the G7 nations. Since the initiation of the full-scale invasion, Japan has condemned Russia's actions and imposed sanctions against it.
