Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering visiting Iran in July for talks with President Hassan Rouhani.

According to Kyodo News, the envisaged visit would be part of Abe’s trip to Europe and the Middle East slated for mid-July.

Abe is expected to convey Japan’s continued support for the 2015 nuclear deal.

Tokyo is also seeking to strengthen economic ties with Tehran, a major producer of oil and natural gas.

On May 8, President Donald Trump officially withdrew the U.S. from the UN-endorsed nuclear agreement and plans to reimpose sanctions on Iran.

Iran has warned the remaining parties to the nuclear agreement – the European Union, E3 (Germany, France and Britain), Russia and China – that if its interests are not guaranteed it will not remain in the deal.

On May 11, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono expressed support for preserving the JCPOA, the official name for the nuclear agreement. 

In phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Kono urged all other parties to remain committed to the multilateral agreement.

On May 23, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a set of demands from Europe to save the nuclear deal. He warned that Iran would restart its nuclear activities if they failed to act swiftly.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the JCPOA could only continue if the Europeans fulfill these conditions including: Promising not to ask Iran about its ballistic missile program or its regional activities; guaranteeing that Iran’s oil will continue to be sold; and having European banks guarantee financial transactions with Iran.

NA/PA