FEC

The “58th Middle East Study Meeting” was held on the theme of “Current Situation of Iran and Future Prospects of Iran-Japan Relations”.

Iran is the fourth largest crude oil supplier to Japan, and Japan is ranked third largest trading partner of Iran. However, Iran’s economy is exacerbated by economic sanctions over the nuclear issue of Iran. In addition, the civil war in Syria has stalled and the instability in the Middle East is deepening.

Mr. Takaya Suto, Advisor of FEC Japan-Middle East Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee, Senior Adviser-CPDNP, JIIA, Former Ambassador to Iran said in his greeting remark that “Iran is a large country in the region with a great history and civilization. In the relation between Japan and Iran, the U.N. sanction resolution became an obstacle. I would like to hear the views on normalization of our relations and peaceful solution of the nuclear issue from the Ambassador.”

H. E. Dr. Reza Nazar Ahari Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran talked frankly about history of Iran sanctions, the possibility of Iran-America dialogue and the relations with Japan.

After the lecture, we enjoyed a lively exchange of views about the relationship with Israel, the response to Syria, the nuclear power plant and so on.