Japan Eager to Enhance Regional Cooperation with Iran

In a telephone conversation with her Iranian counterpart on Wednesday, Kamikawa congratulated Abbas Araqchi on taking office.

She voiced her country’s desire to develop relations and continue regional cooperation with Iran.

Kamikawa also expressed hope for the expansion of cooperation and consultations between the two countries.

Voicing concern about the dangerous situation in the region following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the Japanese minister stressed the need to calm the situation and urged all parties to show restraint.

For his part, Araqchi referred to his first interview as the foreign minister of Iran with the Japanese news agency Kyodo, saying he has stated that Iran’s new policy is to expand relations with the entire world, particularly East Asia.

Araqchi also slammed the crimes committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza and the ongoing issues in Palestine as a major international challenge.

He said the provocative actions of the Zionist regime, including the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to spread the war, are the main causes of escalating tensions in the region.

Iran is not afraid of increasing tensions in the region, but, unlike the Zionist regime, does not seek to escalate regional tensions and conflicts, Araqchi stated.

In the phone call, the two senior diplomats also called for the continuation of dialogue and exchanges of views to develop bilateral relations and regional cooperation.