Fortunately these meetings took place and both sides during the meetings and based on their old relation exchanged their views regarding the latest political and social conditions dominating the world. The Japanese Prime Minister also in Tehran had arranged other meetings, too. A big trade-delegation accompanied Mr. Abe during his visit to Tehran in order to explore grounds for expanding bilateral economic relations.

Accordingly, Japan’s Foreign Minister had arrived in Tehran on Monday to prepare the ground for this historic meeting of Japan’s Prime Minister visit. But the interesting thing was that major world media as well as some U.S.-worshipping Iranian media outlets tried to make the world believe that Mr. Abe’s visit to Tehran was for mediation and they had created too much hype on this political issue. But fortunately, before Mr. Abe’s visit takes place, the Japanese reiterated that this meeting happens just in compliance with the traditional relations of both countries and it had nothing to do with mediation between Iran and the U.S.  The condition for success of Mr. Abe’s visit to Tehran was this proper approach of Japan although during the essential topics of meetings, some issues were raised to soften ties with the U.S. and Supreme Leader with five decisive answers blocked the route for mediation. But Iran and Japan fully showed they, minus the U.S., can have approaches based on proper strategies and regarding their national interests. It is worthy to say that Abe’s visit to Tehran was the first visit of a Japanese Prime Minister to Tehran since the victory of the Islamic Revolution and it was aimed at boosting bilateral ties especially reviewing ways with Iranian officials for cooperation in the energy and trade sectors.

During the talks, the Japanese expressed their interests for cooperation in Makran, south of Iran, and it revealed Japan’s need to guarantee its access to the Persian Gulf. And reports about attack to a Japanese oil tanker in the Persian Gulf could seriously increase the concerns of the Japanese in the region.

During Dr. Mosaddeq’s era, the Japanese were one of serious supporters of nationalizing oil industry in Iran and Iranians still remember this support. Iranians have not forgotten that it was even during Dr. Mosaddeq’s government that the country  faced with Britain’s all-out sanctions on its oil sales and British Navy did not let Iran’s oil purchasers send oil tankers to Abadan Port for loading.

History is repeated now and today once again the Japanese have stretched their hands for cooperation and despite 70 years have passed  from  the nationalization of oil industry, they have stretched their hands to help Iran while the country has been under all-out U.S. sanctions. So this climate of sympathy between Iran and Japan , while both carry wounds from the U.S., can turn into an alliance.

Japan has said that it considers a safe and secure Persian Gulf and providing energy from this region a strategy, and we also fully welcome this approach. That Japanese Prime Minister, leading a trade delegation , visits Iran after four decades has its own significance during the sanctions era but all concerns in Iran is that some pro-Britain and pro-U.S currents in the country would sabotage in way of normalization of ties between Tehran and Tokyo. This is a warning to the Japanese side that they should not blame the whole system of country and the nation for the sabotage because the sabotage comes from the hidden half of the country. They should be well aware that Iranian nation has always relied on good and amicable ties with Japan, and if at this critical condition, this relation is managed carefully and wisely, it can deepen and strengthen the ties between both countries.

By: Hamid Reza Naghashian