Japan PM on Tehran mission to ease Iran-US tensions

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Tehran yesterday for a rare diplomatic mission, hoping to defuse tensions between the Islamic republic and Tokyo’s ally Washington.

State television broadcast footage of Abe being greeted at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The first Japanese prime minister to visit Iran in 41 years, Abe was expected to go straight into talks with President Hassan Rouhani and to meet Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday morning. His arrival was preceded by that of Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who held closed-door talks with Zarif. Addressing a cabinet meeting ahead of the visit, Rouhani said Iran’s leaders and people were united in their view that “the main culprit is America. Not a single individual doubts it.”

 

Japan PM on Tehran mission to ease Iran-US tensions

Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Tehran yesterday for a rare diplomatic mission, hoping to defuse tensions between the Islamic republic and Tokyos ally Washington. State television broadcast footage of Abe being greeted at Tehrans Mehrabad airport by Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The first Japanese prime minister to visit Iran in 41 years, Abe was expected to go straight into talks with President Hassan Rouhani and to meet Irans supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday morning. His arrival was preceded by that of Japans Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who held closed-door talks with Zarif. Addressing a cabinet meeting ahead of the visit, Rouhani said Irans leaders and people were united in their view that the main culprit is America. Not a single individual doubts it.