Alwaght- Having had busy diplomatic days in recent months and engaged in diplomatic missions, Iran's Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdullahian this time picked Japan as a new destination to strengthen relations with as an eastern economic power. The FM headed a delegation to Tokyo on the anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombing to discuss with Japanese officials bilateral relations and international developments.
In the meeting with FM Amir-Abdullahian, Japan's FM Yoshimasa Hayashi said that with its cooperation with Tehran in such areas as medicine, environment, and natural disasters, Tokyo intends to continue its friendly dialogue with the Islamic Republic. For his part, Iranian top diplomat maintained that Tehran, too, is interested to continue and boost dialogue and cooperation with Tokyo.
“The two ministers exchanged views on the latest developments surrounding Iran's nuclear case,” a statement published by the Japanese foreign ministry said, adding: “Foreign Minister Yahashi told Foreign Minister Amir- Abdullahian that Japan has always supported the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and is extremely concerned about the expansion of Iran's nuclear activities, and called on Tehran to take constructive measures, including full and unconditional cooperation based on the joint statement of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Amir-Abdullahianemphasized that Iran seeks to revive the JCPOA through negotiations. He also appreciated Japan's diplomatic efforts, saying: "Iran seeks to continue close relations with Japan in this regard.”
The two ministers also exchanged views on the situation in West Asia and agreed on the continuation of close relations between the two countries. The war in Ukraine and the claim of Tehran's military support to Russia was also one of the topics discussed in this meeting. The Japanese FM raised the claims of Iran providing combat drones to the Russian forces. Amir-Abdullahian once again “categorically” denied these accusations and claims.
The Iranian foreign policy chief also met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Amir-Abdullahian described as a precious asset for boosting relations the Japanese appreciation of the bilateral relations and regional developments. He also highlighted Iran's outstanding role in enhancing energy security in the Persian Gulf.
He also considered the new developments in the region as a promise of deepening intra-regional cooperation in favor of stability, security, development and inclusive prosperity, and described Japan's role in supporting this process as important.
For his part, the Japanese PM evaluated his talks last year with President Sayyed Ibrahim Raeisi of Iran as important and stressed on the importance of relations between Tehran and Tokyo. Kishida expressed satisfaction with the positive new developments in the Persian Gulf region, adding: "Tokyo supports regional cooperation in order to promote sustainable security." He also said that his country supports the revival of negotiations between Iran and other parties for the full implementation of JCPOA commitments and is ready for help and welcomes the continuation of positive interactions between the IAEA and Tehran.
Outlining the goals of Japan visit and also its results, Amir-Abdullahian in a Twitter post said: “I had useful discussions in Tokyo with the prime minister, the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of health and social welfare of Japan. The latest status of bilateral relations, the issues of Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf and Ukraine and the lifting of sanctions were the focus of the conversation with senior officials of Japan, and the friendly relations between the two countries have a long history.
Economy the key matter between the two countries
Economy has always played a key role in Iran's relations with Japan, and relations between the two countries have remained relatively good despite the tensions between Tehran and Washington, a Tokyo ally and partner. Before the suspension of Iranian oil imports in 2019 due to US sanctions, Japan relied on Iranian oil for years and according to the data of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the country imported 46.51 million barrels of oil from Iran in 2018. But Japan, like other countries, refused to buy Iranian oil out of fear of American punitive measures, pushing the business volume between the two countries to its lowest level.
Before the US withdrew from the JCPOA, the trade between Iran and Japan was between $220 million and $250 million, but because most of Iran's exports to Japan were oil shipments, according to Iranian government data, in 2022, their trade was around $30 million, a trivial amount compared to pre-sanctions period.
By sending the FM to Japan mission, the administration of President Raeisi showed it is resolved to work to improve relations with this Asian economic heavyweight regardless of the obstacles and restrictions.
“We can use Japanese technology, railway transportation, infrastructure, auto industry, tourism, energy fields development, and many other sectors. At the same time, Japan imports from Iran carpet, caviar, saffron, pistachio, dried nuts, shrimp, and dates, and currently the exports to Japan are active informally. Indeed, with the lifting of the sanctions, we will see improvement of relations with Japan,” said Bahram Shakouri, the head of Joint Iran-Japan Commercial Committee.
JCPOA case
With its relations to Iran tied to Iran nuclear case, Japan has made some measures for a settlement of this important international case. The late PM Shinzo Abe in June 2019 visited Iran and talked to senior Iranian officials, with many analysts at the time describing his Tehran visit as a mediation attempt between Tehran and Washington regarding JCPOA. Having in mind that Japan is one of former buyers of Iranian oil, to meet its growing oil demand, it works for a possible American-Iranian deal to lift the sanctions and allow for its oil purchases.
Therefore, Amir Abdullahian 's visit to Tokyo is not unrelated to the JCPOA and sanctions, because this trip takes place at a time when, after months of intensive talks in Vienna, the sanctions lifting negotiations have reached a stage where if the US, as the party violating the JCPOA, accepts Iranian reasonable demands and conditions, a lasting agreement will be likely. But the excesses of the White House at the negotiating table have hampered a final agreement, and countries like Japan have also fallen victim to the American ambitions.
Japan political stances aligned with the US
While supporting boost to ties with Iran and sanctions relief, Japanese officials have taken unreasonable stances, apparently contradictory to cooperation.
At the same time as Amir Abdullahian was in this country, Japan expressed concern about Iranian uranium enrichment and alleged Iranian drone supplies to Russia in a statement. These positions come as Tokyo takes dictates from Washington and has no independence in foreign policy.
Some American allies in their relations with Iran are not completely subservient to Washington's policies and take into account their national interests to steer clear of being overshadowed by the Washington-Tehran hostility, but the Japanese government in its criticism of Iran prioritizes the American interests. In JCPOA, for whose settlement Japan is zealous, Tokyo follows the American policy and has several times refused to pay billions in Iranian oil money under the excuse of sanctions.
Though among the world's top five economic powers in the past decades, Japan has failed to release itself from the US protection umbrella and despite the fact that it is the only country to have been nuked, indeed by its ally, it still coordinates its policies with those of Washington.
Despite the popular demands in Japan to sue the US in international courts for Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear attacks in 1945, Tokyo officials have not taken a step towards this aim. Even when the US presidents traveled to Japan, they did not offer apology for bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Despite the American crime against the Japanese people, Japan remains hosting tens of thousands of imposed American troops on its soil. The two countries’ security relations grow tighter days by day and the latest example is full company of the US against Russia in Ukraine crisis. Tokyo imposed massive sanctions on Russia and provided aids to Kiev in show of service to its Western friends. Accusing Iran of sending drones to Russia is also part of the full compliance with the US global policies and will not help efforts to improve relations with Tehran.
