Japan May Be Able to Make US Understand Current Situation: Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyed Abbas Araqchi said Japan may be able to make the US administration to understand the current situation, expressing hope that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's planned visit to Iran will help ease regional tensions.
As a US ally, Japan will probably be able to make Americans understand the current situation, Araqchi told the NHK national television, on Monday.
Araqchi disclosed that Abe is scheduled to meet Iranian leaders, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, during his stay that begins on Wednesday of next week.
Final arrangements for Abe's visit to Iran are underway, according to the report.
The remarks came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.
