Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has notified Japan’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that his government is ready to negotiate international inspection of its nuclear program, a move that could influence Tokyo to move forward with plans to develop a two billion dollar oil field in the Islamic Republic.
Kharrazi is in Japan for a two-day visit, during which he will also meet Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. He presented Koizumi with a letter from Iranian President Mohammad Khatami stating that Tehran is willing to cooperate with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and would begin talks on signing an Additional Protocol, allowing snap inspections of nuclear sites, reported Reuters.
Tokyo obtained priority-bidding rights to develop the Azadegan field in late 2000. Negotiations over Japan’s involvement in its exploration were carried out over the past two years. However, American pressure reportedly compelled Japan to suspend the two billion dollar investment.
The US State Department has repeatedly voiced concerns over Iran's nuclear program and its alleged role in sponsoring terrorism. These concerns have translated into opposition to the long-negotiated deal, which was supposed to be signed July 1, between Tehran and a Japanese consortium made up of two affiliates of the state-owned Japan National Oil Corporation and energy trader Tomen Corporation.
According to Kawaguchi the oil deal and the nuclear concerns are separate matters. "I do not think we should give it up because America says so," agreed Defense Agency Director-General Shigeru Ishiba on a talk show on the private Asahi network.
The Azadegan oilfield is considered Iran’s largest, with reserves of over 26 billion barrels of oil. Japan, the world's second largest economy, depends on imports to supply over 80 percent of its energy needs. It relies on the Middle East for over 85 percent of its $50 billion annual oil imports. Iran is already Japan's third-largest supplier of crude. As a key US ally, Japan backed the Bush Administration’s war on Iraq. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
