Japan calls for ‘momentum for diplomacy’ to end US-Iran war

Japan on Thursday urged Iran to show “maximum flexibility” and called for building “momentum for diplomacy” to end the US-Iran war, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Anadolu reports.

This came in a phone call between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, a ministry statement said.

Motegi said that indirect talks between Washington and Tehran had been “underway since last week,” according to the statement.

The US and Iran held indirect talks through Qatar in New York last week on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Japan has “made consistent efforts toward an early de-escalation and stabilization of the situation and a diplomatic resolution,” Motegi said.

He added that Japan would like to “build momentum for diplomacy together with the countries concerned.”

Motegi also “strongly requested Iran to continue to show maximum flexibility,” the statement said.

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Referring to a meeting on maritime cooperation co-hosted by Japan at the UN last week, Motegi stressed the importance of restoring navigation through key regional waterways.

He said it “is important to restore free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and to discuss the future of the Strait of Hormuz with the entire international community.”

Motegi “strongly requested Iran to respond to the matter constructively,” the statement said.

The ministry said Araghchi explained the current status of talks with the US and Iran’s position.

The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for energy supplies. The Pentagon imposed its own military blockade of Iranian ports.

Efforts to end the war have continued since the June 18 Islamabad memorandum of understanding, which seeks to pave the way for a final peace deal covering navigation in the strategic waterway and Iran’s nuclear program.

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