3.Iran

Iran is a major power with a large number of Shia-Muslim population. It has approximately 4.4 times the size of Japan with a population of about 80 million, and is blessed with abundant natural resources. Japan has maintained and strengthened a historically friendly relationship with Iran from the viewpoints of stable supply of crude oil and the stability of the Middle East region. With regard to the Iranian nuclear issue, Japan has been contributing to a peaceful and diplomatic solution of the issue in coordination with the international community from its unique position.

The Rouhani administration, which took office in August 2013 engaged in the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue with the EU3 (UK, France, and Germany) ＋3 (U.S., China, and Russia). In November, the Government of Iran released the “Joint Plan of Action,” which consisted of “elements of a first step” and “elements of the final step of a comprehensive solution.” The negotiations aimed at a comprehensive agreement started from February 2014. In April 2015, the parties reached an agreement regarding the main elements which would then serve as a basis for the final agreement. In July, they have reached an agreement on “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)” in Vienna.

In order to resolve the regional and international issues including the nuclear issue, Japan has been urging Iran to promote confidence-building with international community and the regional countries, and to play a constructive role in stabilizing the region. Also, Japan has been reinforcing traditional relations with Iran through the framework of high-level political exchange and multi-layered dialogue. Japan-Iran Summit Meeting was held on the margin of the Asia-Africa Conference in Jakarta in April 2015. A summit meeting was also held at the UN General Assembly for the fourth time (in New York, US) in September. In October 2015, Foreign Minister Kishida made second visit to Iran for the first time in two years. A joint statement was issued following the (fifth) meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Zarif, in which the ministers confirmed to cooperate in such fields as nuclear safety, to sign and put into force the Japan-Iran Investment Agreement (which reached substantial agreement in the same month) as early as possible, and to establish the Japan-Iran Cooperation Council. At the visit, Foreign Minister Kishida had talks with President Hassan Rouhani, as well as meetings with economy-related ministers with the participation of the business exectives from Japan (consisting of the representatives from about 20 companies).

In addition to the existing dialogue, the fields of cooperation has been expanding with active cooperation based on memoranda between health and environment authorities of both countries and with “Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education and Scientific Research” being signed.

There were also active high-level visits from Iran were also actively arranged with a view to further strengthen the bilateral relationship: Minister of Health Seyed Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi in February, Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Farhadi in October, and Vice-President and Head of Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi in November.