Iran wants Japanese participation., page 1

Under intense pressure from the western world over the nuclear dispute, Iran has decided to seek co-operation from Japan. On tuesday, after a meeting in Tokyo, the Iranian foreign minister (Mottaki) declared to reporters that he has asked for participation in the nuclear program. Japan itself still urged Iran to halt all enrichment activities, but volunteered itself to be a mediator in this dispute.

www.themoscowtimes.com
Iran has a right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and is committed to not building a nuclear weapon, Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday in Japan.

"Iran also, like Japan, enjoys its right to have nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," Mottaki said after the talks. "We are against nuclear weapons."

Mottaki also said that he asked Koizumi to encourage Japanese companies to participate in the establishment of 10 to 15 nuclear power plants in Iran.

Mottaki, who arrived in Japan on Monday, said a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency showed that there was no proof that Iran's nuclear program was aimed at weapons production. "They could not find evidence that shows that Iran has diverted from its peaceful purposes of nuclear activities in Iran," he said.

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It appears Iran is taking political moves to avert a military strike on its enrichment plants. Japanese participation in the work there would add a new dimension to this problem. However I do feel it's unlikely that Japan would walk into this, they are afterall under great influence of the United States. But it is interesting that Japan wants to act as a mediator.. I guess we'll see how this plays out.

Related News Links:
www.mofa.go.jp

Edit: All caps title.

[edit on 28-2-2006 by intrepid]

[edit on 5-3-2006 by asala]