Qalibaf Urges Japan’s Push to Release Iran’s Assets
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf called on Japan to step up efforts to unblock the Islamic Republic’s financial resources frozen by Japanese banks.
Qalibaf made the remarks in a Sunday meeting with the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Tehran, during which the two sides discussed areas of mutual interest as well as regional and global developments.
Iran’s top parliamentarian thanked the Japanese side for donating coronavirus vaccines to Tehran, saying that humanitarian cooperation between Tehran and Tokyo has been a hallmark of the 90-year-old relations between the two sides.
Qalibaf, however, criticized Japan’s measure to freeze Iranian assets under US pressure, saying, “We expect the government of Japan to act seriously to unfreeze Iran’s assets, especially in order to ease the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.”
The Parliament speaker also pointed to Washington’s unilateral move to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, saying, “By leaving the JCPOA, this country stepped on all forms of multilateral and international interactions and caused illegal sanctions to be imposed on our nation and government.”
As a party to the JCPOA, Iran has complied with all its commitments, he said, adding, “Americans must live up to their commitments. The US acts of obstruction have made it impossible (for Iran) to even purchase medicine during the coronavirus pandemic, and we expect Japan, as a peace-loving country, to show serious reaction to this issue.”
The Japanese foreign minister, for his part, said his country precisely monitors regional developments and the Vienna talks aimed at reviving the JCPOA, adding that that resolution of very complicated issues requires more negotiations, Press TV reported.
Tokyo emphasizes all the JCPOA signatories’ commitment to the deal, Motegi said.
He also stressed the importance of improving trade and economic cooperation between Tehran and Tokyo.
