Japan-Iran Relations

 

Diplomatic Relations

1926.10.11 -- Japanese Temporary Legation in Tehran Opens
1929.08.01 -- Japanese Permanent Legation in Tehran Opens
1935.03.21 -- “Persia” becomes “Iran”
1942.04.03 -- Japanese Legation in Tehran Closes
1953.11.01 -- Japanese Legation in Tehran Reopens
1955.02.21 -- Both Legations Raised to the Status of Embassies

Major Bilateral Treaties and Agreements, 1939-2005

1939 -- Treaty of Friendship
1958 -- Cultural Agreement
1958 -- Technical Support Agreement

Summary of Japan-Iran Relations, 1880-2005

Direct bilateral relations began in 1880 when the inspection mission of Masaharu Yoshida toured Persia to investigate political and economic conditions in the country. Despite that early beginning, however, substantial links were not developed until some decades later.

In both the prewar and postwar eras, Japan maintained friendly relations with Pahlavi Iran. The two Pahlavi Shahs were hailed as modernizers not unlike Mustafa Kemal Ataturk or even the modernizers of Meiji Japan. In the 1960s and 1970s many Japanese regarded Iran as being more stable than the Arab Gulf states, and so it became an important trading partner. The key bilateral project that ultimately emerged was the massive Iran-Japan Petrochemical Company.

Japanese leaders were shocked and unprepared for both the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War of 1980. In both cases, however, they made the judgment that their economic interests in Iran were too important to be abandoned. Tokyo resisted pressure from Washington to cut their links with Tehran, and defied occasional attacks by Iraqi warplanes on Japanese projects inside Iran.

However, continued American pressure did lead Tokyo to downgrade its relations with the Islamic Republic to some degree, and business was conducted quietly. In 1993, Japan even stopped offering yen loans to Iran.

The rise to power of the more liberal Iranian president in August 1997 was greeted positively in Japan. Although Washington still argued that Iran should be isolated, Tokyo slowly began to rebuild its ties with Tehran. This eventually led to the participation of the Inpex oil company in negotiations to develop the massive Azadegan oil field. In February 2004, the contract was signed giving Inpex a 75% stake in the project, although it was expected that others would be invited in later.

By the beginning of June 2005, there were again mixed signals in the relationship. On the one hand, the Azadegan project was expected to consolidate bilateral ties for many years. On the other hand, Tokyo was becoming more concerned about nuclear development in Iran, especially if this program involved military applications. Many were also watching to see the results of the upcoming Iranian presidential elections to see if a Khatami’s successor would be a liberal or conservative figure.

State Visits, 1979-2005

1979 -- MITI Minister Masumi Esaki Visits Tehran
1983 -- Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe Visits Tehran
1984 -- Foreign Minister Velayati Visits Tokyo
1987 -- Foreign Minister Kuranari Visits Tehran
1987 -- Foreign Minister Velayati Visits Tokyo
1991 -- Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama Visits Tehran
1998 -- Foreign Minister Kharrazi Visits Tokyo
1999 -- Foreign Minister Komura Visits Tehran
2000 -- President Mohammad Khatami Visits Tokyo
2001 -- Foreign Minister Kharrazi Visits Tokyo
2001 -- MITI Minister Takeo Hiranuma Visits Tehran
2002 -- Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi Visits Tehran
2002 -- Foreign Minister Kharrazi Visits Tokyo
2003 -- Foreign Minister Kharrazi Visits Tokyo
2004 -- Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi Visits Tehran
2005 -- Foreign Minister Kharrazi Visits Tokyo

Economic and Trade Relations

In 2005, Japan exported more than US$1.3 billion worth of goods to Iran. The main items were machinery, steel, and transportation equipment. Japanese imports from Iran were valued at more than US$10.3 billion, more than 95% of it being crude oil.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship League

Taro Nakayama
House of Representatives (Osaka 18th District)
Liberal Democratic Party

MOFA Webpage

Japan-Iran Relations

Embassy Webpage

Embassy of Japan in Tehran (No English)
Embassy of Iran in Tokyo

Local News in English

Fars News Agency
Iran Focus
Iran Press Service
Iranian Students News Agency
IRIN-Iran
Islamic Republic News Agency

2005 Newsletters

5 -- Itochu Invests in Iranian Petrochemical Project near Bushehr
27-- Japan Reacts to the Iranian Presidential Elections
30 -- Regarding the Ninth Iranian Presidential Elections
55 -- IPIS Call for Papers: The Persian Gulf: An Emerging Security Structure
65 -- The Battle of Azadegan Heats Up
66 -- New Book: Arani on “Knowledge Management” in Japan
75 -- Gauging Japan’s Role in the Middle East
83 -- Japanese Foreign Policy toward the Middle East 1973-1990
117 -- Iranian Vice-President in Tokyo
124 -- Travels in Persia (1933)
150 -- Azadegan Advances against the Wind

2006 Newsletters

157 -- Tokyo Breaks Its Silence on Iranian Nuclear Development
161 -- The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: Japan as Mediator?
163 -- An Exchange over the Iranian Nuclear Issue
169 -- Japan’s Role in Iran Crisis / Unrequited Responsibility / Oriental Economist
186 -- Tehran’s Diplomatic Purge Hits Europe and Japan
187 -- Japan and the “Clash of Civilizations”
188 -- Another Exchange over the Iranian Nuclear Issue
195 -- Mottaki Visit is Formally Announced
207 -- Foreign Minister Mottaki in Japan: The Balance Sheet
211 -- Oil Prices Focus Attention on the Persian Gulf / Oil Money and Japanese Stock
216 -- Nippon Oil Cuts Back on Supplies from Iran
224 -- Zoellick to Tokyo: Stop the Azadegan Development
244 -- Tokyo’s Agony over Iran
248 -- Japan: A Delicate Balance
256 -- Ties with the Middle East
263 -- Will Tehran Call Tokyo’s Bluff?
273 -- The Iranian Ambassador Talks Tough in Tokyo
275 -- Bolton Pushes Back
284 -- Inpex in Azadegan: Delay is Not an Option
292 -- The Squeeze is On: Japan and Iran
298 -- Japan Eyeing Iran Sanctions / Oil Minister Warns Inpex / China Soaks Up
303 -- Beijing Now Holds the Key to Japan-Iran Relations
319 -- Japan’s Persian Gulf Policies in the Koizumi Era
325 -- Statute of Limitations Expires on Hitoshi Igarashi Murder
331 -- The Foreign Muslim Population in Japan
333 -- A Japanese Approach: Cultural Diplomacy in the Middle East
338 -- Japanese Trade with the Islamic World in 2005
350 -- Japan and Iran Expand Cultural Ties amid Political Uncertainties
356 -- Tokyo Backs a Ceasefire in the Lebanon Crisis - Now that Washington Agrees
362 -- Tokyo May Support Sanctions on Iran - But Wants to Touch Oil Last
364 -- Arrests Made in the Mitsutoyo Case / Illegal Exports Threaten Security
372 -- All Shook Up: Azadegan / Nishida-Araghchi Discussion / Appeasing Iran
380 -- The Azadegan Saga: Daneshyar Talks Trash and Nikai Talks Business
386 -- Decision Time: The Inpex Azadegan Project Hangs in the Balance
391 -- Some Ugly Realities in Beautiful Country Japan
395 -- Tokyo Backing Out of the Azadegan Project
397-- Azadegan Oil Field Negotiations Floundering
399 -- Abe Administration’s First Victory: Squandering Japan-Iran Friendship
405 -- Azadegan Autopsy, Part I: METI versus MOFA
412 -- Azadegan Autopsy, Part II: The North Korea Factor
416 -- Yuriko Koike is Handed the Iran Portfolio
431 -- Oil Field Development: Substituting Iraq for Iran?
442 -- Azadegan Autopsy, Part III: The View of Inpex Chairman Kunihiko Matsuo
449 -- Japan-Iran Relations Adrift
451 -- Japanese Foreign Policy Should Focus on Damage Control
469 -- Oil and Power: The Rise and Fall of the Japan-Iran Partnership in Azadegan
472 -- Tokyo’s Policy toward Iran Unclear / Solidarity Key / Giving Up on Azadegan

2007 Newsletters

478 -- A Low-Key Visit to Tehran
481 -- Israeli and Iranian Diplomats Battle over Tokyo’s Nuclear Policies
487 -- Foreign Minister Livni Pushes Tokyo Hard on Iran and Hamas
522 -- Economic Sanctions on Iran / Aid for Iran / Shoichi Nakagawa / North Korea
525 -- The Aso-Mottaki Phone Call
531 -- Discussion: Japan and the Iranian Nuclear Talks
532 -- Taro Aso’s Speech on West Asian Policy
535 -- Masayuki Yamauchi on Japanese West Asian Strategy
547 -- Call for Papers: Institute for Political and International Studies (Tehran)
551 -- Aso Holds Talks / Peres Calls for Sanctions / Energy Project / Iranian Pottery
556 -- An “Asian Solution” to the Iranian Nuclear Crisis?
564 -- Tokyo’s Response to UNSC Sanctions / Tehran Wants Yen / Aso Statement
567 -- Foreign Minister Taro Aso and the Issue of the Captured British Sailors
574 -- Ahmadinejad Speaks on Japan-Iran Relations / Observer Status in SAARC
579 -- Asahi on “Confusion in the Middle East”
614 -- Tokyo Imposes Expanded Sanctions on Iran
621 -- Iranian Embassy Hosts Discussion on Japanese Relations with Islamic World
650 -- Reflections on Iranian Cultural Diplomacy in Japan
661 -- Vice-Minister Safari in Tokyo for Talks / Banks Restrict Loans / Photo Exhibit
673 -- Japan-Iran Dialogues / Azadegan Didn’t Bite / Japanese Agricultural Market
676 -- Yen for Oil: Dollars Not Accepted by Tehran
680 -- Hosuke Nagase’s Account of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution
714 -- Ahmadinejad on Missile Defense / Oil Woes / Earthquakes / Global Warming
740 -- Richard Armitage on Japanese-Islamic West Asia Relations
742 -- Former Ambassador of Israel: Iran Definitely Seeking Nuclear Power
750 -- Mottaki-Machimura Meeting / Yen for Oil / Free Trade Zones
755 -- Robert Dujarric on Japan and the Iran Issue
762 -- Armed Group Kidnaps Japanese Traveler / Yen for Oil
765 -- Details Emerge about the Kidnap Case in Iran
773 -- Onodera Returns Emptyhanded / Japanese Ambassador / Free Trade Zones
779 -- Fukuda Should Mention Iran to President Bush
797 -- Onodera Returning to Iran over Nakamura Kidnapping
799 -- The China-Japan-Iran Triangle Revisited
808 -- Frustration over Kidnapping / Different Messages / Empty Oil Threats
815 -- Japan as Mediator between Washington and Tehran (Once Again)
819 -- Satoshi Ikeuchi on the Role of the Middle East in Japanese Politics
821 -- Japan and West Asia: Insights Inspired by Zbigniew Brzezinski
831 -- Ahmadinejad Interview / Japan Post Bank / Nakamura / Ebadi on Women
842 -- Now Then… Let’s Do Business!
860 -- Still Waiting for the Nuclear Thaw in Tokyo

Information for the “Japan-Iran Relations” page was compiled by Michael Penn.