Abe Leaves for Iran to Convey Trump's Message of Dialogue

Tokyo, June 12 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left for Iran on Wednesday to convey to Tehran a message from U.S. President Donald Trump that the United States hopes to resolve its current tensions with the Middle Eastern nation through dialogue. "There are concerns about growing tensions in the Middle East, and Japan aims to play as great a role as it could for peace and stability in the region," Abe told reporters at Tokyo International Airport in Haneda before departure. "Capitalizing on the traditional friendly relationship between Japan and Iran, I hope to have candid talks (with Iranian officials), with a view to easing the tensions," Abe added. Abe will hold talks with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani later on Wednesday and the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday. He will be the first incumbent Japanese leader to meet the supreme leader. On Tuesday, Abe had phone talks with Trump and confirmed that he will work to mediate between the United States and Iran. It remains uncertain, however, whether his bid to play the role of mediator will produce results. Iran has rejected Trump's offer of dialogue as lacking good faith, given sustained U.S. sanctions on the country. Abe could be pressed by Tehran to persuade Washington to lift the sanctions, observers said. The Iran visit by Abe is the first by a sitting Japanese prime minister since Takeo Fukuda paid a visit there in 1978, ahead of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. As Japan and Iran mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations this year, Abe and Rouhani are also expected to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral ties. Believing that stability in the Middle East is crucial for Japan, which relies on the region for nearly 90 pct of the country's oil imports, Abe has also held talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Israel, which have hostile relations with Iran. END