Japan, Iran leaders to meet in September for nuclear talks: report

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi are likely to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme and alleged provision of armed drones to Russia

Foreign ministers from Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council member states are also expected to meet next month, with energy cooperation on the agenda

Reading Time:2 minutes

A Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location in Iran in May. Photo: Iranian Defence Ministry via AP

Published: 8:10pm, 20 Aug 2023Updated: 8:51pm, 20 Aug 2023

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will meet in New York in September to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme among other issues, Kyodo news agency said on Sunday, quoting unnamed Iranian diplomatic sources.

Kyodo also said Japan was making preparations for a meeting of foreign ministers from Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states in Saudi Arabia early next month.

Iran aims to promote relations with Japan, traditionally a friendly nation, to avoid international isolation as its talks with the United States and Europe over their nuclear deal have stalled, Kyodo said.

No comment was immediately available from Japan’s foreign ministry.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Photo: dpa

Kishida and Raisi also met last September when they visited New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran to revive the nuclear agreement have been stalled since last September, although the two are trying to ease tensions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that he would welcome any Iranian steps to de-escalate its “growing nuclear threat”.