Iran’s Doors Open to Japan’s Public, Private Companies: Rouhani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani highlighted the importance of economic relations with Japan and said the Islamic Republic’s doors are open to the public and private companies of the East Asian country.
Speaking at a Friday meeting with senior officials of Japan’s political, economic and cultural sectors before his departure from Tokyo, Rouhani deplored Washington’s economic sanctions against Tehran and said, “The US pressure on Iran and other countries is a bitter reality that we face today.”
“However, it is important (for Iran and Japan) to find a way to trade and deal with each other in these difficult conditions and to take steps in favor of the two nations,” he added.
Iran’s doors are open to the Japanese government and companies and they can invest in large-scale economic projects, the president went on to say.
“Iran and Japan, as two long-standing friends, should not allow a third country to disrupt their friendly relations,” Rouhani noted.
Heading a high-ranking delegation, President Rouhani paid a visit to the Japanese capital to hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other senior officials of the country on issues of mutual interest.
The visit came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans.