Japan offers Iran $2.2 million nuclear safety deal

Tokyo and Tehran are set to continue cooperation amid uncertainty over the UN-backed nuclear deal that has facilitated growing bilateral ties.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

08 December, 2016

Javad Zarif [L] met with Fumio Kishida this week in Tokyo [AFP]

Japan has decided to offer Iran a nuclear safety deal worth around $2.2 million, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday.

The deal will help Tehran to implement its historic nuclear deal with Western nations.

"We agreed that bilateral relations are steadily making progress in a wide range of areas, including on cooperation for the steady implementation of the nuclear agreement," Kishida reporters in Tokyo after talks with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif.

The agreement comes as the future of the nuclear deal remains shrouded in uncertainty, with United States president-elect Donald Trump yet to budge from his pledge to cancel the accord.

Trump promised during his presidential campaign to make cancelling the deal a "number one priority" and described it as "disastrous," among other things.

Earlier this month, Iran threatened to terminate the deal itself, after US lawmakers voted to extend sanctions on Tehran for another ten years.

Iran agreed the UN-endorsed nuclear deal with six major world powers in July 2015, which entailed the lifting of most international sanctions in return for Iran limiting its nuclear program.

Japan was one of the nations that lifted its sanctions on Iran and since the deal has increased its cooperation through trade and investment. Tokyo has also actively encouraged business with Iran while many are competing for access to its market.