Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday reiterated Japan’s concern over Iran’s decision to increase the level of Uranium enrichment up to 60 percent.

Motegi said Japan wanted Iran to comply with the JCPOA and refrain from any provocative measures that could undermine the nuclear agreement and to act in a constructive manner with the intention of resolving the issue through dialogue.  

Motegi, however, expressed guarded optimism on the outcome of negotiations with Iran on the nuclear enrichment issue. 

“Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, there are two things,” Motegi said. “One is the positive move in Vienna where the relevant countries are engaging in a positive dialogue, which I welcome. I have high hopes that the United States and Iran will go back to the implementation of the nuclear deal, the foreign minister said.

“I am closely watching the progress of the dialogue, but at the same time, Iran started to produce enriched Uranium up to 60 percent and I have strong concerns about that.”

“We have a very good and long-standing friendly relationship with Iran, so we are going to leverage this relationship,” Motegi added. “I can’t say what steps we are going to take at this moment, but we are going to make a positive contribution to the progress of the dialogue.”