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Japan's Abe hails Tokyo-Tehran 'friendly' ties

Iran Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands in a meeting in Tokyo, Japan, February 13, 2019

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has hailed his country’s ties with Iran as "traditionally friendly."

Abe made the comment as he met with visiting Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in the capital Tokyo. Abe said Japan and Iran are marking the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, adding that Tokyo is keen to further boost its cooperation with Tehran.

On the second day of his visit to Japan, Larijani conferred with Abe on the expansion of commercial and economic cooperation between the two countries. Both officials agreed on a policy to strengthen traditionally friendly relations.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian parliament speaker held a meeting with Ki Shida, head of the Iran-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group.

Addressing the Japanese official, he said, "Some countries create problems in the path of relations that need to be addressed..., and your role and friendship are definitely effective in solving this problem."

"In the minds of the Iranian people, there is no negative point towards the Japanese people and they are interested in expanding relations with your country," Larijani added.  

During the meeting with members of Japan's House of Councilors in the Diet, Speaker Chuichi Date stressed that Japan supports the Iran nuclear deal, from which the United States has pulled out. Date described Iran as a major country with a rich culture in the Middle East.

Japan is among those countries which have been exempted from US sanctions against Iran and can buy Iran's oil. Iran is a major supplier of crude oil to Japan.

The two countries have been struggling to keep mutual trade unharmed since the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran last year in the wake of Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear pact.


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