Iran Flag Iran Special Collection

Return to the International Reaction to the Iranian Nuclear Crisis

Japan's View of the Current Nuclear Impasse

Masako Toki

Japan supported all the relevant IAEA resolutions calling for Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities without exception, including uranium conversion. In light of Iran's recent resumption of uranium enrichment related research and development activities, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) released the following official statement:

"The resumption of uranium enrichment-related research and development activities runs counter to the requirements in the agreement reached between the EU-3 (France, Germany and the U.K.) and Iran in November, 2004 (Paris Agreement) as well as the relevant IAEA Board of Governors Meeting resolutions. It also undermines the basis of negotiations between the EU-3 and Iran for a peaceful and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. Japan strongly calls on Iran to immediately cease the resumption of the research and development activities and to implement sincerely all the requirements of the relevant IAEA Board of Governors Meeting resolutions including the suspension of all the uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities without exception." [1]

Japan currently chairs the IAEA Board of Governors and is a nonpermanent member the UN Security Council. Tokyo has also maintained a relatively friendly relationship with Tehran. Japan plans to invite Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to Japan in late February as part of Tokyo's efforts to persuade Iran to cease its nuclear programs.[2] Therefore, a prospective meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Mottaki during his trip to Japan indicates Japan's intention to play a role in resolving the nuclear issue peacefully.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe stated on January 13, 2006, after the special IAEA board of governor's meeting was announced, that Japan would support a proposal that referred Iran to the UN Security council over its nuclear program. Abe emphasized that, "There is no other choice but to take the matter to the UN Security Council unless Iran halts its nuclear activities."[3] In addition, on January 18, Japanese Foreign Minister Aso urged his Iranian counterpart Mottaki to reconsider Iran's decision to resume uranium enrichment during a telephone conversation.[4]

Moreover, in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during a visit to Washington, DC, in January 2006, chief of Japan Self Defense Agency Fukushiro Nukaga confirmed that Japan will work with the United States to solve Iran's nuclear problem. He told Rice that Iran should not be allowed to proceed with nuclear development in defiance of opposition from the international community.[5]

On January 31, 2006, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi urged Iran to address international concerns about its nuclear programs. He repeated Tokyo's policy that Japan was ready to support a move to refer the issue to the UN Security Council. He said, "It is important that Iran makes a sincere response over its suspected nuclear development. Japan will cooperate with the international community to have it deal properly with the nuclear suspicious." Following the a statement by the P-5 and EU-3 on January 31, 2006, that expressed consensus on the issue of Iran, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe in a press conference reiterated the prime minister's earlier comments and urged Tehran to halt all its uranium enrichment activities. Abe stated that "We appreciate that the six countries this time sent a clear message to Iran. We intend to coordinate closely with the countries concerned."[6]

Responding to the IAEA Board's adoption of the resolution requesting the Agency to report Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council, a MOFA official commented that:

"Japan strongly hopes that Iran will take this resolution seriously and respond to it sincerely. Japan has been making its own diplomatic efforts aimed at solving this issue, including at ministerial level, and is determined to seize every opportunity to urge Iran to respond sincerely."


[1]Statement by the Press secretary/Director-General for press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Resumption of Uranium Enrichment-related Research and Development Activities by Iran, Jan.10, 2006. http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2006/1/0110.html
[2] Kyodo: Japan Eyes Visit by Iran's Mottaki for Talks To End Nuclear Program, January 14, 2006.
[3] Jiji: Japan Supports Proposed UNSC Referral for Iran, January 13, 2006.
[4] Jiji: Japan Urges Iran To Stop Uranium Enrichment Program, January 18, 2006.
[5] Mainichi Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2006
[6] Kyodo: Japan Urges Iran To Address Int'l Nuclear Concerns, January 31, 2006.


Return to the International Reaction to the Iranian Nuclear Crisis

Return to Top