Envoy: Japanese Companies Eyeing Economic Opportunities in Iran

Saito, in a Monday meeting with Governor General of Iran’s Eastern province of South Khorasan Sadeq Motamedian, said that Japanese companies are looking forward to continuing cooperation with Iran despite US sanctions.

Japanese companies operating in Iran have continued their activities despite the withdrawal of many European companies, added the envoy.

Referring to the US failure to comply with JCPOA, he said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always fulfilled its commitments under the 2015 international deal.

Elsewhere, he said that South Khorasan province enjoys many potential and the investment of Japanese companies in the region requires more time, adding, “Japan will certainly review the requests made by Iran in different sectors.”

For his part, the Iranian official also described the capabilities of the province, especially in the economic sector, saying that South Khorasan embraces Japan's investment in mineral industries. He expressed readiness to further enhance bilateral cooperation in this sector.

Late in February, Saito, in a meeting with Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnaser Hemmati, reassured that Tokyo will soon launch a bilateral banking channel with Tehran. 

He added, in the meeting in Tehran, that despite the re-imposition of sanctions by the US, Japanese companies operating in Iran have continued their activities in the past months.

Touching upon importing 200,000 barrels of oil from Iran on a daily basis in the past two months, the Japanese diplomat noted that Tokyo continues its economic relations in accordance with its national interests.

He went on to say that the launch of banking activities will mark the start of a new period of economic ties between the two countries.

It was decided in the meeting that an Iranian banking delegation visit Japan in the near future to discuss ways to further expand bilateral cooperation.

Two weeks earlier in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani stressed that his country attaches much importance to ties and cooperation with Iran in different fields.

Tokyo is keen to further boost its cooperation with Tehran, Abe said in the meeting in Tokyo on February 13.

He said that Iran and Japan are marking the 90th anniversary of their friendly diplomatic relations this year.

On the second day of his visit to Japan, Larijani conferred with Abe on the expansion of commercial and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Both officials agreed on a policy to strengthen traditionally friendly relations.

Earlier on the same day, the Iranian parliament speaker held a meeting with Ki Shida, head of the Iran-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group.

Addressing the Japanese official, he said, "Some countries create problems in the path of relations that need to be addressed..., and your role and friendship are definitely effective in solving this problem."

"In the minds of the Iranian people, there is no negative point towards the Japanese people and they are interested in expanding relations with your country," Larijani added.  

During the meeting with members of Japan's House of Councilors in the Diet, Speaker Chuichi Date stressed that Japan supports the Iran nuclear deal, from which the United States has pulled out.

Chuichi described Iran as a major country with a rich culture in the Middle East.

Iran and Japan have been struggling to keep mutual trade unharmed since the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran last year in the wake of Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear pact.

Japan is among those countries which have been exempted from US sanctions against Iran and can buy Iran's oil. Iran is a major supplier of crude oil to Japan.