Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was visiting Iran to help ease rising tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic.
“KHAMENEI’S BELIEF IN PEACE”
Khamenei’s comment, a reiteration of Iran’s stance, comes at a time of increased US-Iranian tension, a year after Washington abandoned an agreement between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international financial sanctions.
“Supreme Leader Khamenei made a comment that the country will not and should not make, hold or use nuclear weapons, and that it has no such intentions,” Abe told reporters in Tehran following a meeting with Khamenei. “Today, I met Supreme Leader Khamenei and heard his belief in peace. I regard this highly as a major progress toward this region’s peace and stability,” said Abe, the first-ever Japanese prime minister to hold talks with Khamenei.
Japan is in a unique position to act as a mediator as the US ally has long maintained close ties with Iran.