Iranian FM, chemical attack survivors visit Japan on Hiroshima Day
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and a group of survivors of chemical weapons, used during the 1980s Iraqi-imposed war, have visited Japan as the East Asian country remembers the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said Amir-Abdollahian arrived on Sunday night in Tokyo, where he was welcomed by Japanese officials.
The top Iranian diplomat is expected to hold talks with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Katsunobu Katō on bilateral relations, regional issues, and international developments, Kan’ani added.
Amir-Abdollahian’s trip to Japan is the first by an Iranian foreign minister since December 2019 and the first under President Ebrahim Raeisi.
It takes place on the 78th anniversary of the US nuclear attacks on two Japanese cities days before the end of World War II.
On August 6, 1945, the US dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing thousands instantly and about 140,000 by the end of the year. Three days later, it dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki, killing another 70,000.
Coinciding with Amir-Abdollahian’s visit, a delegation from Tehran Peace Museum, which represents those who were injured by chemical weapons during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, travels to Hiroshima to express sympathy with the victims of the US atomic attacks.
During the war, the regime of Western-backed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein continuously employed chemical weapons against Iranian combatants and civilians, leaving tens of thousands dead on the spot and many more suffering for years to come.
‘Japan can play constructive role in West Asia’
Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, the Iranian foreign minister said that Iran has always had a positive view of the Japanese people, civilization, and history.
“Given the ongoing positive developments in West Asia, we believe that Japan can play a constructive role in the region,” he added.
Amir-Abdollahian further emphasized that the regional countries are today ready to ensure the security of the Persian Gulf region and its energy resources.
“Naturally, we expect regional countries to use their power and capacity in order to ensure the collective security of the region. We also expect Japan to support the policy,” he asserted.
“Tokyo and Tehran can forge stronger cooperation in this framework.”
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