Arab News Tokyo

Iran needs to realize that some of its destabilizing activities in the Middle East, including interference in Yemen’s civil war, have earned the distrust of the international community, Japan’s most popular daily has claimed.

An editorial in Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said that it would be difficult for Iran to end its current predicament without the trust of other countries. 

According to the newspaper, Iran will not be able to achieve its objective — such as lifting of sanctions and economic assistance — just by threatening to make nuclear weapons.

During a visit to Tokyo last week, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani had asked Japan to take concrete steps to develop bilateral relations further. This move suggested that he is relying upon Japan as a usually friendly nation to help at a time when the US and Europe maintain a tough stance toward his country, said the newspaper.

The editorial noted that it is essential for Japan to maintain relations with Iran when it is isolated and that Tokyo should continue to help ease tensions in the Middle East.

Japan should also extend help in improving the living condition of the Iranian people by helping in providing medical services and on environmental issues, said the newspaper.

The daily suggested that stability in the Middle East will become impossible if the US and Iran doesn’t overcome mutual distrust, adding that the Iranian leadership should change its stance of rejecting any dialogue with the US.

The newspaper also said that the US should also refrain from imposing excessive pressure on Iran through sanctions and should make a move to ease tensions.