Japanese prime minister says he wants to do everything possible to ease Middle East tension
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister said on Friday that he plans to do everything he can so as to ease tension in the Middle East region and wants to talk with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session that starts in September.
“I would like to work tenaciously, and play the best possible role to ease tensions in the Middle East,” he said. The Japan Times reported on Wednesday that Abe and Rouhani are planning to meet in late September at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Abe met in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Wednesday. According to Reuters, Zarif said that Iran is not seeking to increase tension but every country should be able to enjoy its rights under international law.
Zarif also said, “Iran welcomes the Japanese government’s role (in trying) to ease tensions in the Middle East.” According to Abe, “Japan will persistently continue our diplomatic efforts to deal with rising tensions in the Middle East and stabilize the current situation.”
Pointing to his meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Abe said that Ayatollah Khamenei noted that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons.
“Japan will use its utmost effort to reduce tension in the region,” he said. Abe also stated, “Increase in tensions in the region must be contained at any price, and Japan can play a quite constructive role in this regard.”
“Peace and stability of the Middle East region is essential not only for the prosperity of this region, but also for the prosperity of the entire world,” Abe noted.