Newsletter No. 478
News-Analysis
January 9, 2007

 

A LOW-KEY VISIT TO TEHRAN

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has reported that Norihiro Okuda, Director-General of MOFA’s Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, visited Tehran on the 7th and met with his counterparts in the Iranian Foreign Ministry, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari. Okuda was, until recently, the Japanese Ambassador to Iran’s neighbor, Afghanistan.

The news report was very brief, but its tone was rather positive. According to the IRNA, Okuda “said that Japan recognizes Iranian rights for peaceful use of nuclear energy and described Iran as an important state in the Middle East region and major supplier of energy for Japan,” and that he “also acknowledged Iran as a vital trade partner for Japan calling for development of relations and exchange of views between officials of the two countries.”

Other than this single IRNA report, I have not seen any other mention of this visit. If the tone of the IRNA report is faithful to reality, then this may perhaps be a sign that Tokyo is finally waking up to the need to stabilize their relationship with Tehran after the Azadegan mess. This could also have something to do with some initiative on Yuriko Koike’s part, since she is now supposedly in charge of Iran policy.

But that’s all speculative -- Better wait for more information…