Speaking in a meeting of Iran-Japan high-ranking delegations in Tehran on Wednesday night, President Rouhani said in order for the tensions to ease off, the US must end the unlawful economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
As regards the Japanese prime minister’s stances on the tensions between Iran and the US, Rouhani said, “The key to the problem is in the hands of Washington, and undoubtedly, whenever the Americans go beyond the words and remove the illegal sanctions against Iran practically, the situation will be different.”
“People of Iran are angry at the US government’s measures regrading Iran and at the imposition of cruel economic pressures. I hope that Americans bear in mind that the war with a government or an army may end in victory, but the war against a nation is definitely doomed to defeat,” he underlined.
The president also noted that any plan to ensure regional security, alleviate tensions, and establish peace and stability must begin from the very point of instability, which is “the economic sanctions against Iran.”
“In case these (anti-Iranian) sanctions end, we will witness new relations in the region,” he underscored.
For his part, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country has held “serious talks” with the US about the imports of oil from Iran, stressing that Tokyo is eager to promote cooperation with Tehran in various fields, such as the war against terrorism and narcotics.
Abe said the main purpose of his trip to Iran was to try to ease the tensions, and expressed hope that his visit to Tehran would result in the reduction of tensions and establishment of peace in the region.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, Abe arrived in Tehran on Wednesday and became the first Japanese leader to visit Iran in more than 4 decades.
The Japanese premier had a meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Thursday.