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Japan-Iran Relations in the Spotlight as UN Sanctions Approach

Friday, 26 March 2010 20:45

The United States and likeminded Western European nations are looking to Japan as a key partner in negotiations with Iran and as a reliable supporter of a fourth round of sanctions at the UN Security Council (UNSC). [1]

Japan’s accession to the rotating UNSC presidency in April – which reportedly coincides with the United States’ timetable for pushing the sanctions through the Council [2] – has highlighted Japan’s relatively close relationship with Iran. As UNSC president, Japan’s UN representative will likely set the tone for any sanctions vote, given the agenda-setting authorities associated with the presidency and its ability to issue official statements and notes. [3]
Although Japan’s diplomatic relationship with Iran has been strained since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, [4] Japan and Iran have nonetheless maintained relatively close ties spanning eight decades. [5] Iran continues to enjoy Japan’s patronage as the world’s largest importer of Iranian crude oil, [6] and Japanese officials recently hosted Iran’s former top nuclear negotiator in Tokyo. [7]

However, Iran’s military intentions have become a growing worry for Japan since 2002 [8] when an exiled Iranian opposition group exposed the Islamic Republic’s erstwhile secret nuclear enrichment program. [9] Japan’s attitude towards Iran also cooled in the aftermath of the June 2009 Iranian presidential election when the international community widely criticized the Islamic Republic’s human rights abuses against peaceful protestors. [10]

Given Japan’s historic alliance with the United States and its stated commitment to nuclear nonproliferation, Iran’s continuing defiance of international nuclear negotiations has heightened tensions between the two countries. [11] Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada stated in January that although Japan hopes for a resolution of Iran’s nuclear standoff through engagement, Japan would support international sanctions against Iran if necessary. [12] In February, Okada issued a statement expressing regret at Iran’s decision to enrich uranium to about 20 percent purity. [13]

Economic relations

The Japan-Iran relationship is deeply grounded in Japan’s reliance upon the Islamic Republic for crude oil. [14] Since 1990, Iranian imports to Japan more than tripled to $12.74 billion in 2007. As of 2007, crude oil comprised 96 percent of Iranian imports, accounting for 12 percent of total crude oil imports to Japan. [15]

In November 2008, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo co-hosted an Iran Investment Seminar, which visiting Iranian government officials attended. Similarly, the Japan and Tokyo Chambers of Commerce and Industry hosted an Iran Business Seminar for an Iranian government delegation in 2006. [16]

Under U.S. pressure, however, Japanese companies have removed many of their assets from Iran’s oil and gas sectors during the last ten years. [17] But although Japan has stated it will support economic sanctions against Iran should they become necessary, [18] China’s swift movement to displace once-Japanese-held investments in Iran complicates any multilateral or UN sanctions effort. [19]

Diplomatic relations

Both Japan and Iran have embassies in each others’ capitals and have had diplomatic contact since 1929 when Japan first set up a legation in Iran; they upgraded their legations to full embassies in 1955. [20]

Unlike the EU which announced it would not issue a congratulatory message to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after he was declared winner of the highly disputed June 2009 presidential elections, then-Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso sent Ahmadinejad a letter of congratulations. [22] However, since the June elections the Japanese foreign ministry has issued at least three statements noting its concern for the government’s behavior towards protestors. [23]

On Feb. 24, Iranian Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani met with several top Japanese political leaders in Tokyo including his counterpart, Japanese Diet (parliament) Speaker Takahiro Yokomichi who called for increased cooperation and bilateral ties with Iran. [24] Since 2001, elected and appointed Japanese officials have traveled to Iran multiple times each year, and Iranian officials have similarly traveled to Japan multiple times each year. [25] Japanese-Iranian cultural exchanges also periodically take place. [26]

Nuclear issues

Japan’s unique status as the only country struck by nuclear weapons is seen as a major factor in its increasing coolness towards Iran. [27] Some international observers – including former top Iranian nuclear negotiator Larijani [28] – have compared Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities to Japan’s, which is characterized by an advanced civilian nuclear energy program but not a nuclear bomb. [29] Unlike Iran, however, Japan does not possess ballistic missiles. [30] Moreover, Japan’s self-declared status as a “peace nation” and its defensive military [31] contrasts with Iran’s belligerent rhetoric towards Israel [32] and its arming, funding and training of terrorist groups. [33]

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2009 with Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili and stated that Japan would continue its cooperation on a range of issues with Iran if “a relationship of mutual confidence was constructed in the international arena and a suitable environment was provided.” Hatoyama also noted that “cooperation had become difficult due to the international situation surrounding Iran.”

Foreign Minister Okada held talks with Jalili the previous day during which he communicated his belief that U.S. President Barack Obama’s engagement policy was a historic opportunity for Iran not to be missed. Jalili replied that the opportunity, rather, was Obama’s. [34]

Japan has reportedly offered Iran an alternative deal to an October 2009, UN-backed agreement – agreed to and then retroactively broken by Iran [35] – whereby Iran would ship the majority of its nuclear fuel to Russia and France for processing. [36] In the compromise Japanese fuel swap, Iran reportedly would ship 70 percent of its nuclear material to Japan for processing. [37] No Iranian agreement to the deal has been publicly announced to date. [38]

Japan now wields influence in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since its 145 member states appointed Yukiya Amano, a career Japanese diplomat, to succeed Mohamed Elbaradei as the agency’s director general in July 2009. [39] In advance of a March 1 IAEA Board of Governors meeting, Amano issued to IAEA member states a report suggesting Iran might be building a nuclear warhead. Said Iran’s nuclear energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi in response to the report, “We did not see an unbiased position [from Amano].” [40]

Global Arab Network

Source: Réalité-EU

[1] Rozen, Laura, "Japan emerges as key player on Iran," Politico, Feb. 1, 2010, http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0110/Japan_emerges_as_key_player
_on_Iran.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=
Feed%3A+kramerlinks+%28Linkage+by+Martin+Kramer%29&utm_content=Twitter

[2] "US sees 'critical role' for Japan on Iran," AFP, March 5, 2010, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGKfqCXjCRE2j5J6WF_0oPblCsRw

[3] "NOTES BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL," UN Web site, http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/notes/PresidentialNotesEng.htm, accessed March 12, 2010; "Presidential statements," UN Security Council Web site, http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_pres_statements10.htm, accessed March 12, 2010

[4] Azimi, Nassirine, "Japan's Iran Moment," The New York Times, Feb. 17, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/opinion/18iht-edazimi.html

[5] "Japan-Iran Relations," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, February 2010, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/index.html

[6] Danby, Michael, "Blame China for Iran’s Nuke," The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 11, 2010, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703382904575058641316152822.html

[7] "Iran’s nuclear program will follow Japanese model: Larijani," Tehran Times, Feb. 25, 2010, http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=214872

[8] "Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Chairwoman's Summing-up Statement of the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting Concerning the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, June 19, 2003, http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2003/6/0619.html

[9] Goodenough, Patrick, "Iraqis Subdue Iranian Dissidents, As U.S. 'Monitors' the Situation," CNS News, July 31, 2009, http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/51823

[10] Azimi, Nassirine, "Japan's Iran Moment," The New York Times, Feb. 17, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/opinion/18iht-edazimi.html

[11] "Visit to Japan by H.E. Dr. Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran (December 20-24: Outline)," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Dec. 24, 2009, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/snsc0912.html

[12] "Germany and Japan share the same values," Auswärtiges Amt, January 2010, http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/AAmt/BM-Reisen/2010/01-JapanChina/100114-japan.html

[13] "Statement by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Iranian Nuclear Issue," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Feb. 10, 2010, http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2010/2/0210_03.html

[14] Azimi, Nassirine, "Japan's Iran Moment," The New York Times, Feb. 17, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/opinion/18iht-edazimi.html

[15] “Japan-Iran Relations,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, February 2010, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/index.html

[16] "Japan-Iran Relations," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, February 2010, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/index.html

[17] Pomfret, John; Lynch, Colum, "U.S. criticized on Iran sanctions," The Washington Post, March 5, 2010, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030404735.html

[18] "Germany and Japan share the same values," Auswärtiges Amt, January 2010, http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/AAmt/BM-Reisen/2010/01-JapanChina/100114-japan.html

[19] Pomfret, John; Lynch, Colum, "U.S. criticized on Iran sanctions," The Washington Post, March 5, 2010, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030404735.html

[20] "Japan-Iran Relations," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, February 2010, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/index.html

[21] "EU shuns Ahmadinejad Iran re-election," USA Today, Aug. 8, 2009, http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-08-06-eu-iran-reelection_N.htm?csp=34

[22] Farrar-Wellman, Arielle, "Japan-Iran Foreign Relations," AEI Iran Tracker, Feb. 3, 2010, http://www.irantracker.org/foreign-relations/japan-iran-foreign-relations

[23] "Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Dec. 29, 2009, http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/12/1228_01.html;
"Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran Following the Presidential Election," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, July 6, 2009, http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/7/1193558_1138.html;
"Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran Following the Presidential Election," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, June 22, 2009, http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/6/1193359_1136.html

[24] "Iran’s nuclear program will follow Japanese model: Larijani," Tehran Times, Feb. 25, 2010, http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=214872

[25] "Japan-Iran Relations," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, February 2010, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/index.html

[26] "Japan-Iran Relations," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, February 2010, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/index.html

[27] "US sees 'critical role' for Japan on Iran," AFP, March 5, 2010, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGKfqCXjCRE2j5J6WF_0oPblCsRw

[28] "Iran’s nuclear program will follow Japanese model: Larijani," Tehran Times, Feb. 25, 2010, http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=214872

[29] Asculai, Ephraim, "Iran is not Japan," The Jerusalem Post, December 27, 2009, http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=164439;
Blair, Dennis C., "Written testimony on the Annual Threat Assessment of the Intelligence Community" Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Feb. 12, 2009, http://intelligence.senate.gov/090212/blair.pdf

[30] "Japan: Missile Overview," Nuclear Threat Initiative Research Library, April 2009, http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Japan/Missile/index.html

[31] Schoppa, Leonard, "Japanese Domestic Politics: The Challenge of Turning off the Cruise Control," Foreign Policy Research Institute, October 2003, http://www.fpri.org/education/teachingjapan/schoppa.domesticpolitics.html

[32] MacAskill, Ewen; McGreal, Chris, "Israel should be wiped off the map, says Iran's president," The Guardian, Oct. 27, 2005, http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1601413,00.html

[33] Mansharof, Y., "Calls in Iran to Topple Egyptian, Saudi Regimes," Middle East Media Research Institute No. 479, Dec. 12, 2008, http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA47908

[34] "Visit to Japan by H.E. Dr. Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran (December 20-24: Outline)," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Dec. 24, 2009, http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iran/snsc0912.html

[35] "Iran Wants Big Changes to Draft Atom Deal With Powers," Reuters via The New York Times, Oct. 29, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/29/world/international-us-iran-nuclear.html;
Sanger, David E.; Erlanger, Steven; Worth, Robert F., "Tehran Rejects Nuclear Accord, Officials Report," The New York Times, Oct. 29, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/world/middleeast/30nuke.html?hp

[36] "Iran receives new nuclear fuel proposal from U.S., Russia, France," Xinhua, Feb. 15, 2010, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-02/15/c_13176323.htm

[37] Rozen, Laura, "Japan emerges as key player on Iran," Politico, Feb. 1, 2010, http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0110/Japan_emerges_as_key_player
_on_Iran.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=
Feed%3A+kramerlinks+%28Linkage+by+Martin+Kramer%29&utm_content=Twitter

[38] "Iran criticizes Germany over release of PJAK ringleader," ISNA, March 9, 2010, http://www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1505181&Lang=E

[39] "Profile: Yukiya Amano," BBC News, Dec. 1, 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8131415.stm

[40] Ghazi, Siavosh, "Iran says new UN nuclear chief biased," AFP, March 2, 2010, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jlYJm_yRn-OhbOnI1YTAfLwkgoCQ

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