Japan lauds Brazil-Turkey deal on Iran+

TOKYO, May 20 Kyodo -
Japan has hailed a deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey on Iran's nuclear program
and agreed with the two countries to continue to closely consult on the matter
following a U.S. move to impose additional sanctions against Iran, the Japanese
Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada held separate teleconferences Wednesday with his
Turkish and Brazilian counterparts Ahmet Davutoglu and Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim
and stressed the importance of implementing the new deal, in which Tehran
agreed to send 1.2 tons of its low-enriched uranium stock to Turkey.
However, Okada pointed out in the phone talks with the two countries that the
situation remains serious as Iran continues its uranium enrichment to 20
percent purity, according to the ministry.
The United States said Tuesday it has presented to the U.N. Security Council a
draft resolution to impose additional sanctions against Iran over its nuclear
ambitions, including conducting cargo inspections and slapping new restrictions
on Tehran's import of conventional arms.
Iran insists that it has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons and that its
uranium enrichment program is strictly for peaceful purposes. But the United
States and its allies suspect it is pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program
that requires highly enriched uranium of over 90 percent purity.
The foreign ministers of Turkey and Brazil -- both nonpermanent Security
Council members -- told Okada that the fresh deal provides a chance to settle
the standoff diplomatically, the ministry said.
Okada is scheduled to discuss on Friday a response to Iran's nuclear ambitions
with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Tokyo.
On Wednesday, Iranian Ambassador to Japan Seyed Abbas Araghchi urged Tokyo not
to endorse the resolution presented by the United States to the U.N. Security
Council, warning that Tehran could take countermeasures if Japan, also a UNSC
nonpermanent member, approves it.
==Kyodo