Abe Committed to Mediating between U.S., Iran

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday emphasized his determination to mediate between the United States and Iran. Noting at a press conference that preparations are under way for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to visit Japan, Abe said, "Japan, which is an ally of the United States and maintains amicable relations with Iran, needs to play its role" as a bridge between the two countries. "I'd like to make full diplomatic efforts by tenaciously engaging in dialogue," he said. In June, Abe visited Iran and held talks with Rouhani and Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rouhani is slated to visit Japan later this month. Abe said he will make a decision on a plan to dispatch Self-Defense Forces troops for a mission to secure sea lane safety, based on sufficient discussions by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito. He aims to make a cabinet decision Dec. 20 on the SDF dispatch. "I'm aware of various opinions," Abe said, referring to opposition among some LDP members to a plan to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Japan next spring as a state guest due partly to the current situation in Hong Kong. "Still, it is now required for us to confirm with President Xi that (Japan and China) should fulfill their responsibility (in the international community)," he said, stressing that there is no change in the invitation plan.