Japan Backs Iran Nuclear Deal, Says Japanese FM

Beijing – Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono says his country backs the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers in 2015 from which the US has withdrawn, IRNA reported.

In a meeting with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano in Vienna Thursday, Kono said Tokyo supports the important nuclear deal struck in 2015 to solve Iran’s nuclear issue and favors its preservation; Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted Kyodo News as reporting.

Under the international deal between Iran and six major powers –  Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States – Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

 Kono also said that Japan will support the International Atomic Energy Agency if it conducts inspections of North Korea’s nuclear facilities.

Kono conveyed that Tokyo is ready to help by shouldering part of the initial costs needed for such inspections and dispatching nuclear experts if Pyongyang agrees to have its facilities inspected after promising to work toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Kono, speaking at the outset of the talks, stressed the need to end the North Korean crisis. He told Amano that the Japanese government will offer “an appropriate level of support” with an eye to tapping Japan’s contribution to the IAEA, which is worth around ¥350 million ($3.2 million).

Pakistan wants all parties to uphold JCPOA

In Islamabad, Pakistan says that it wants all sides to continue to uphold Iran nuclear agreement also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal while responding to a question posed by IRNA at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday said Pakistan wants continuity of this agreement.

Earlier he had said that the JCPOA is a very good example of successful diplomacy and should be kept alive.

To a question Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan is committed to peace and security in Afghanistan and fully supports President Ashraf Ghani’s peace initiative. “There is no military solution to the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan, We hope that Taliban would grab the opportunity of unconditional peace talks,” he said.

He said that it is not solely Pakistan’s responsibility to bring Taliban to negotiation table.

Replying to another question he said Pakistan and Russia had been arranging join military exercise ‘Friendship’ for last two years. “The two countries are likely to continue with joint military exercises,” he said.

He went on to say that Pakistan will also be participating in the joint military exercise ‘Peace Mission 2018’ under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which will be held in Russia this year.

He further said these anti-terrorism joint military exercises are conducted under the aegis of SCO on a regular basis to strengthen counter terrorism cooperation among the member-states.

Muhammad Faisal added that Pakistan and Russia had signed an agreement for the construction of north-south gas pipeline in October 2016 for long-term cooperation in the energy sector.

The spokesperson to another question said that senior US State Department official (Ambassador Alice Well) had a useful visit to Pakistan on July 2-3 in which she held detailed meetings. “During the meetings two sides discussed bilateral relationship, as well as regional situation especially Afghanistan,” he said.

He said that Pakistani cabinet had extended the deadline of Afghanistan refugees to stay in the country till September 30th 2018.

In his opening remarks, Muhammad Faisal said the Government of Pakistan handed over a list of 471 Indian prisoners (53 civilian + 418 fishermen) in Pakistan to the High Commission of  India in Islamabad on 01 July 2018.

“This is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July, respectively,” he said.

The spokesperson added the Indian Government also handed over the list of Pakistani prisoners in India, to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

R.S