TEHRAN (Iran News) During the session, members proposed organizing an Iran-Japan Cultural Week in collaboration with the Iran-Japan Joint Chamber and the Carpet Commission, citing the cultural proximity between the two countries as a foundation for enhanced cooperation.

Hossein Salahvarzi, President of the Iran-Japan Joint Chamber, opened the meeting by highlighting the historically amicable relations between Iran and Japan. “There is no negative memory of Japan in the historical consciousness of Iranians,” he stated, noting Japan’s potential to meet Iran’s technological and technical needs. Despite sanctions, Salahvarzi emphasized that trade between the two nations has not entirely ceased, and a broad range of non-trade activities—such as cultural and humanitarian exchanges—are feasible and included in the Joint Chamber’s agenda for the coming year.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by sanctions, Salahvarzi suggested redirecting cooperation toward non-sanctioned sectors, including pharmaceuticals, humanitarian efforts, environmental projects, education, and research. He stressed the critical need to secure OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) permits to facilitate collaboration with Japan, adding that the Joint Chamber is prepared to work closely with the Carpet Commission and specialized associations on initiatives involving carpets and handicrafts.

Salahvarzi also lamented Iran’s absence from Japan’s Expo due to logistical issues, describing it as a missed opportunity for Iranian businesses.

Abolfazl Roghani Golpayegani, an advisor to the President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, echoed Salahvarzi’s sentiments, affirming the consistently positive relationship with Japan. He urged the private sector to leverage the Iranian diaspora in Japan to boost trade.

Asadi, a representative of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) in Iran, outlined JICA’s role as the development arm of the Japanese government, operating under Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With a presence in over 100 countries, including a 50-year history in Iran, JICA collaborates with governments on joint research, technical assistance, loans, and grants. In Iran, JICA coordinates through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Budget and Planning Organization, with past projects focusing on healthcare, waste management, environmental protection, earthquake preparedness, and air pollution.

Asadi acknowledged that sanctions have delayed projects, requiring lengthy OFAC negotiations, while additional internal restrictions in Iran since 2022 have further complicated efforts. He advised that proposals for JICA collaboration must first be submitted to Iran’s Budget and Planning Organization.

Morteza Haji-Agha Miri, President of the Carpet, Art, and Handicrafts Commission, underscored the commission’s role in fostering international engagement. He called on provincial chambers and trade associations to tap into JICA’s resources via the Budget and Planning Organization. “Culture is a way to circumvent sanctions or counter their narrative,” he said, reiterating the commission’s priority to promote the economy of culture and arts through events like cultural weeks. He formally proposed the Iran-Japan Cultural Week as a collaborative effort with the Joint Chamber.

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Afshar Fath-Ullahi, CEO of Qeshm Island Free Zone Organization, discussed the numerous economic and tourism capacities of Qeshm Island in the meeting with Kazutoshi Aikawa, the Japanese ambassador to Tehran.

The Japanese diplomat welcomed the development of cooperation with Iran by describing the characteristics of Qeshm as distinctive.

The beautiful Island of Qeshm overlooks the Strait of Hormuz and serves as the inlet to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

This island, which is the largest island in the Persian Gulf, is one of the most strategic islands due to its proximity to the Indian Ocean, the presence of oil and gas resources, petrochemical and refinery units and offshore equipment, and having port facilities for large ships (in the Panamax category) is one of the most strategic islands in Iran and the Persian Gulf.

The natural and historical features of this island have also made Qeshm one of the main tourist destinations in Iran.

Due to its location in a key point of the North-South transit corridor, having access to the East-West international flight corridor, and its port facilities, which is in a way considered as complement Shahid Rajaei Port, this area plays a prominent role in global trade and commerce.

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Advisor to Energy Minister on international affairs Mr. Mohammad Ali Farahnakian on Tuesday and in the educational seminar on managing water resources in Japan which was held with collaboration of Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) and in presence of  Ambassador of Japan to Tehran Kazutoshi Aikawa highlighted major performance of Ira in water management.

Addressing the seminar, Farahnakian welcomed developing cooperation between Iran and Japan in the water and electricity industry and said that it is required to increase the role and limited share of water in the national gross domestic through education and international cooperation. He added that sharing knowhow and experience between the countries is the base of any development.

He went on to say that in the field of water one of the events which happened last year was the International Conference on International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” which was held in Dushanbe the capital of Tajikistan, where high-ranking officials of different countries as well as Iran’s energy minister took part to review problems related to water in the world and finding ways for sustainable water supply.

Farahnakian then pointed to the water crisis in the world and said that countries which are in the arid and semi-arid region of the world should have favorable management for their water supply and consumption.

He then noted that during the current government in Iran, some 10,000 villages have joined the national sustainable water supply network and expressed that with implementing the new water supply project, almost 90% of villages which are deprived of access to sustainable and drinking water will have access to water.

Meanwhile Ambassador of Japan Mr. Aikawa said that evaluation of integration of dams and related installations as well as managing the quality of water with using advanced technologies are of the important issues which should be faced.

He added that to tackle such challenges in Iran. JCCME has held several seminars in the Middle East in this field as it has helped Iran to resolve related problems.

Aikawa added that according to the experience, these seminars will lead to better performance and increasing efficiency of installations and equipment.

This seminar is held through cooperation of JCCME and Iran Water Resources Management Company. The seminar will wrap up today. These seminars are aimed at reinforcing cooperation and exchange of experience and knowledge between Iran and Japan in the field of water resources management.

The objective of JCCME is to contribute to the promotion of Japan’s cooperation in the areas of trade and investment in furtherance of industrial and economic development in the MENA region. JCCME is active in 22 countries from Western Asia to North Africa.

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Speaking to ILNA, Bahram Shakouri said that the amount of Iran’s frozen money in Japan is estimated between 2 to 5 billion dollars but one cannot have a precise figure of the blocked money and the oil ministry should answer to it, but he believes around 2 to 3 billion dollars of Iran has been blocked in Japan.

On the latest condition of Iran-Japan trade, he said most of Iran’s frozen money in Japan is related to the oil sales and Iran has been unable to get its money back due to sanctions and rejecting the FATF. He said in fact the FATF has caused the problem in transfer of money and therefore the FATF has been effective in blocking Iran’s money.

Shakouri reiterated that even if the sanctions are lifted tomorrow, Iran cannot have banking transactions as long as the country does not obey the FATF rules.

He said refusing to join the FATF has put pressure on the private sector as the country has seen it obviously during the payment for one of the famous football coaches, and the private sector rushed to help in this case.

Shakouri noted that some believe sanctions have not had great impacts but the truth is that they have been very effective and they have hit the private sector so that the private sector activists face problem for opening LCs.

He went on to say that the country should work on restoring ties with the world in a proper manner and it should resolve the problem of the FATF because the FATF is nothing but transparency and if the domestic laws seek transparency, then they should join the FATF.

On the trade ties with Japan, Shakouri said Japan and South Korea have no problem for trade with Iran but since major Japanese and Korean companies do business with the U.S., they refrain from cooperating with Iran due to sanctions.

He said due to sanctions, Iran’s non-oil trade with Japan has slumped significantly, and petrochemical industries, shrimp, fruit and dried fruits are the major exports of Iran to Japan. He reiterated that the total non-oil trade of Iran and Japan does not touch $1b and it is estimated even around $300m.

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According to IRNA report, in a ceremony in the presence of Japan Ambassador to Tehran Aikawa Kazutoshi, representative of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Mr. Claudio Providas, Representative United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Ms. Maryam Javan Shahraki, Deputy Chief of Department of Environment Mr. Ahmad Reza Lahijan Zadeh and head of Iran Fishery Organization Mr. Nabiollah Khoonmirzaee, the MoUs on gratuitous aids were signed.

Addressing the ceremony, Japan Ambassador Mr. Kazutoshi welcomed the participants and explained the cooperation of his government with Iran in the developmental fields like a revival of Urmia Lake and the Fishery Organization in Chabahar Port in training the fishers.

Then Provides, for his part, explained the cooperation of UNDP with Iran and Japan in the revival of Urmia Lake and explained the program of this organization for the revival of other wetlands.

Meanwhile, Lahijan Zadeh said in a condition that COVID-19 has overshadowed many issues and activities in the world, we are here to consult for continuing co-operations, expressed hope that 2021 would be the last year of the COVID-19 and the world would return to the normal condition.

He also reminded the participants of the 50th anniversary of signing the Ramsar Convention, saying that one of the activities of Iran has been to revitalize Urmia Lake that the Japan Government supported Iran in terms of financing and offering expert consultation.

Lahijan Zadeh went on to say that Japan has spent some one billion dollars for saving the Urmia Lake, adding that he can point to ecologic management of Anzali Wetlands and identifying the wetlands in the neighboring provinces of the Persian Gulf as one of the Japanese government’s joint activities with Iran. He further said that developing sustainable agriculture in Urmia Lake is in this framework.

Then Javan Shahraki thanked Japan Embassy in Tehran and pointed to the cooperation of Iran, Japan, and UNIDO in different fields especially in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, and concentrating on training fishers and developing activities of the aquatic at Chabahar.

Meanwhile Head of Iran Fisheries Organization Khoonmirzaee, for his part, said that Iran with having coastal lines in the north and south and the existence of several centers for fish farming and other aquatics is the biggest producer of fisheries in the region. He further said Chabahar Port due to access to the free waters is dependent on fishery but there are still more capabilities in this regard that with activating them, more opportunities for jobs, deprivation, and developing co-operations will be provided.

He then said one project has been operationalized in collaboration with the Iran Fishery Organization, UNIDO, and Japan government and its last phase is pursued to be carried out in order to develop the trade of tuna and to boost the level of the aquatics to a considerable level.

Meanwhile, according to the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) in Tehran, Japan and UNIDO have signed a funding agreement for a project to promote the sustainable development of the tuna value chain in the Chabahar region of Iran.

Building on earlier interventions to build the capacity of the tuna value chain in Chabahar, the initiative will support the ability of local fishermen to access new markets while at the same time reduce the risk of overfishing.  Currently, although tuna caught in the Chabahar region is of high quality, most of it is canned and sold at low prices. Fishermen are catching tuna using methods and at volumes that, if continued, will likely deplete marine resources in the south-east coastal region.

Through a collaborative approach with the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, the Iranian Fisheries Organization, and local institutions, UNIDO will provide technical assistance to improve the quality management system, encourage the promotion of exports at higher prices, promote sustainable fishing practices, and establish a mechanism to monitor and control the stock of yellowfin tuna.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the fishery sector in Chabahar will directly benefit from these quality and market-related interventions, particularly from Japanese knowledge sharing and technology transfers.

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Abe told reporters that Trump has requested the phone call and it has come on the same day that Rouhani wrapped up his two-day visit to Japan and returned Iran, AFP reported.

Abe did not refer to Iran when he met with reporters just before midnight Saturday, but a Japanese government source said Abe did talk to Trump about his discussions with Rouhani.

The Abe-Trump phone call lasted about 75 minutes, according to Kyodo.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, President Rouhani paid a visit to the Japanese capital to hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other senior officials of the country on issues of mutual interest.

The visit came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.

Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans.

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In remarks on Saturday, Araqchi said pointed to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s recent trip to Japan and said the two Iran and Japan marked the 90th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations during the discussion.

He further said the Iranian president and the Japanese prime minister met three times this year in Tehran, New York, and Tokyo.

“Very heavy and intensive talks were held last night, and bilateral, regional and international issues, as well as issues related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and US sanctions, were discussed,” Araqchi said.

The two countries agreed to continue the consultations, the Iranian deputy foreign minister went on to say.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, President Rouhani paid a visit to the Japanese capital to hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other senior officials of the country on issues of mutual interest.

The visit came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.

Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans.

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Speaking to reporters before leaving Tehran for Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday morning, Rouhani said pursuing the policy of “pivot to the East and closer ties with major Asian countries” has always been among the Islamic Republic’s main objectives.

“The visits to Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, made at the invitation of the senior officials of the two countries, are in line with this policy,” the president added.

Highlighting the economic relations and investment cooperation between Iran and Japan after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, including the close environmental consultations at present, the president said the “cruel US pressures and illegal sanctions” have caused a reduction in the ties between Tehran and Tokyo.

“This (American) move and the sanctions won’t be steady, and all countries in the world want to have close and good relations with Iran, particularly the countries with which we’ve had good ties traditionally,” Rouhani added.

On the visit to Malaysia for participation in the KL Summit 2019, Rouhani said the heads of a number of major Muslim states would attend the summit, including those of Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Iran and Malaysia share views on many regional issues and Islamic world affairs, Rouhani stated, adding that both nations believe in dialogue and negotiations for the settlement of the Islamic world problems.

The KL Summit 2019 will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from December 18 to 21.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – In a press conference in Tabriz, the Spokesperson of the Iranian foreign ministry Abbas Mousavi announced the country’s support for Japan’s measures taken in alleviating tensions in the region.

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