Iran's nuclear program will follow Japanese model: Larijani

Source: Mehr News Agency

Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has stated that Iran will follow the Japanese model in its nuclear program. Japan has nuclear technology but does not possess any nuclear weapons and Iran will follow the same path in its nuclear program, Larijani said in a meeting with Japanese House of Councilors President Satsuki Eda in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The House of Councilors is the upper house of Japan's Diet (parliament).

The Iranian parliament speaker arrived in Japan on Wednesday for a five-day visit.

He also held talks with Japanese Parliament Speaker Takahiro Yokomichi and Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Wednesday.

In his meeting with Eda, Larijani mentioned his visit to the city of Nagasaki, which was devastated by an atomic bomb during World War II, and called the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan a continuation of that horrendous crime.

He criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency for failing to fulfill its duty in regard to nuclear disarmament and the transfer of nuclear expertise to member states, saying that the IAEA is under the influence of the major powers, especially the United States.

The IAEA has not taken any steps to help Iran acquire nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor, he added.

During his meeting with the speaker of the lower house of the Japanese parliament, Larijani told Yokomichi that Iran and Japan are influential countries that play significant roles in the Middle East and called for the expansion of bilateral ties.

Yokomichi mentioned the two countries' long and friendly relationship and said Japan is interested in expanding its cooperation with Iran.

The Iranian parliament speaker pointed to the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and criticized certain countries for adopting a double-standard approach toward Iran's nuclear program.

Larijani and Yokomichi also exchanged views on the two countries' bilateral efforts to resolve the Afghanistan crisis.

During his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, Larijani expressed support for Japan's proposal for convergence among Asian countries.

The Islamic Republic fully supports the Asian convergence proposal, he added.

He pointed to Japan-Iran cooperation for the optimization of energy consumption and praised the efforts to enhance the two countries' economic, cultural, and scientific ties.

The Japanese foreign minister expressed satisfaction with the current level of ties with Iran but also called for the expansion of cooperation with the Islamic Republic.

Iran has so many natural and human resources and it has the potential to play a major role in the international community, he added.

Commenting on Iran's nuclear program, Larijani said Iran will always support the idea of constructive negotiations.

However, if some countries want to use harsh language about Iran at the UN Security Council, Iran will press ahead with its nuclear program, he added.