Japanese FM and UN officials in Tehran

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on 12OCT15 at the Sadabad Palace in Tehran.

According to Channel News Asia:

Japan and Iran have reached agreement on an investment accord, which may give a boost to Japanese investments into the Islamic Republic once sanctions are lifted as early as next year, the countries' foreign ministers said in a statement.

Japan is keen to boost ties with Iran and invest in resource projects there, as well as increase crude imports from the Middle Eastern country.

Japan's crude imports from Iran plunged more than 40 percent from 2011 levels before tough Western sanctions were introduced in 2012 over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.

Japan's top oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp, which in 2010 was forced to give up a stake in Iran's Azadegan oil field because of the sanctions, was among dozens of companies that visited Iran in August.

Iran's chief negotiator for new oil contacts said last week the country would introduce more than 50 exploration and production projects to investors in the near future.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on 12OCT15 at the Sadabad Palace in Tehran.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, Vice President and Head of Management and Planning Organization, on 13OCT15 in Tehran.

Japanese and Iranian delegations in conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida and Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, Vice President and Head of Management and Planning Organization, on 13OCT15 in Tehran.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Iran's Minister of Industries, Mines, and Trade, on 13OCT15 in Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Jan Eliasson, Swedish diplomat and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

According to Tehran Times:

UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said on Monday that the UN still has a lot to do in putting an end to conflict, poverty, inequalities and repression, noting the UN mission is not accomplished yet.

Eliasson made the remarks while delivering a speech on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the UN celebrated in Tehran.

During his speech in which some Iranian officials and UN diplomats were present, Eliasson admitted that there is much left to be done in the UN. “We all have work to do. Our mission is not accomplished. We need to continue to reform our organization and adapt it to the new global landscape.”

COMMENTARY: Eliasson was part of the UN mission that attempted to mediate the Iran–Iraq War from 1980 to 1986.

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Chairman of Expediency Discernment Council, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with Ali Akbar Velayati, President of Expediency Discernment Council's Center for Strategic Research, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with IRIN Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, on 12OCT15 in Tehran

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with Seyed Kamal Kharazi, Head of Iran's Strategic Foreign Relations Council, on 13OCT15 in Tehran

Ján Kubiš of Slovakia, Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on 11OCT15 in Tehran.

According to Mehr News Agency:

UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Iraq Ján Kubiš who is in Iran to discuss latest Iraqi developments with Iranian officials was received on Sunday evening by Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister and head of diplomatic machinery of the country, where he expressed gratitude for the attempts by Mr. Kubiš waged to bring stability and security to crisis-stricken Iraq.

Mr. Kubiš believe[s] that the key to safely coming out of the current situation in Iraq is national unity. He also said that international and regional players were also important in helping manage the situation in the country; “promoting national reconciliation process, supporting strong central government, and focusing global participation in tackling economic, security, and social issues in Iraq are UN’s priorities,” he added.

Mr. Kubiš asserted that he would speak to any country and player as his mission for reaching a realistic analysis of the pandemonium in Iraq and finding a viable and effective solution, and believed that Iran’s role in Iraq and its benign advice on Iraq was absolutely invaluable for this reason.

Ján Kubiš of Slovakia, Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), with Ali Akbar Velayati, President of Expediency Discernment Council's Center for Strategic Research, on 11OCT15 in Tehran.

 

Wilfried Lemke of Germany, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, looking over photos of disabled Iran-Iraq War veterans engaging in sport, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

High ranking officials in Tehran from Netherlands, Japan and IAEA

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on 20SEP15 in Tehran

According to DutchNews.nl:

Koenders arrived in Iran at the weekend in what is the first visit by a Dutch minister in 14 years.

According to the NRC, Zarif said the oil and gas industry, water sector and farming are all areas which offer prospects to Dutch companies. He also said he regretted the fact that the long relationship between the two counties had suffered because of sanctions.

At a press conference after their meeting, Koenders said the Netherlands is keen to strengthen economic, political and cultural ties between the two countries ‘on equitable terms’.

In addition, he said that Iran is ‘indispensible’ in a ‘very difficult region in which we have to find peace and stability’. ‘I also welcome the involvement of the Iranian government in trying to engage in productive talks… on issues like Syria and Yemen,’ the Dutch minister said.

COMMENTARY: Following the signing of JCPOA in Vienna, Zarif has received in Tehran high ranking officials from France, Italy, United Kingdom, Austria, Syria, Iraq, Brazil and now Netherlands and Japan (see below).

Zarif has also undertaken diplomatic trips to Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Russia, China and Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister Bert Koenders and female member of Dutch delegation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on 20SEP15 in Tehran.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders with Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, on 21SEP15 in Tehran

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders with Iran Navy Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, on 21SEP15 in Tehran.

Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kentaro Sonoura with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on 20SEP15 in Tehran.

According to PressTV:

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says a nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in July will prepare the ground for more economic relations between Iran and Japan.

“Japan, by making an investment in different sectors, can restore its previous economic position in Iran,” Zarif said in a meeting with Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura in Tehran on Sunday.

According to Tehran Times:

A trade delegation, led by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chairman Hiroyuki Ishige, is scheduled to visit Iran on October 7, according to the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI).

The delegation will be comprised of CEOs of some companies from the Japanese private sector, the IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.

Ishige is planned to visit TPOI Director Valiollah Afkhami-Rad to explore ways for the expansion of trade and economic ties between Iran and Japan.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, on 20SEP15 in Tehran.

According to AFP:

Amano held talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani as well as atomic agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi.

Under a deal sealed in July with six world powers aimed at ending a 13-year standoff, Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear activities that experts say would make any dash to produce a weapon all but impossible.

Amano also addressed a 12-member committee set up by the Iranian parliament to examine the deal

IAEA delegation with Iran parliamentary committee, on 21SEP15 in Tehran

COMMENTARY: In the above photo, among the Iranian committee members, the following individuals can be identified: Sayyid Hossein Naqavi, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Hojjat al Eslam Vahid Ahmadi and Alireza Zakani.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Japanese economic delegation meets with Iranian ministry in Tehran

 

Japan’s vice-minister of Economy, Trade and Industry meets with Iran's Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade on 09AUG15 in Tehran.

According to Tasnim News Agency:

Iran's Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh and a high-ranking Japanese economic delegation, in a meeting in Tehran, stressed the need for closer ties in various fields, including automotive and rail industries.

In the Sunday meeting with the visiting delegation headed by Daishiro Yamagiwa, Japan’s vice-minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Nematzadeh voiced Iran’s preparedness to promote mutual cooperation with the East Asian country in diverse spheres.

[…]

The Iranian minister further emphasized that Iran is ready to cooperate with the Japanese companies in rail, automotive and telecommunications industries.

The Japanese official, for his part, said Tokyo is willing to boost economic relations with Tehran in various areas after the termination of anti-Iran sanctions. "There should be durable and continued process for the expansion of cooperation," Yamagiwa stated.

COMMENTARY: Japanese interest in developing post-sanctions economic ties comes following high level official visits from Germany, France and Italy. The Iranian foreign ministry has stated it expects in the near future high level official visits from Spain and Switzerland.

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