Japanese news agency "Kyodo," quoting undisclosed diplomatic sources, reported that Japan is preparing to hold a meeting of Foreign Ministers from Japan and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Saudi Arabia in early September. The report stated that Japan aims to strengthen relations with oil-producing countries to ensure stable energy supplies from the Middle East as U.S. influence declines while China's rises. It mentioned that Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will attend the meeting and may visit Egypt and Jordan. The Japanese Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment.
Additionally, Iranian diplomatic sources indicated that Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will meet in New York next month to discuss Tehran's nuclear program and other issues. Kyodo noted that Iran seeks to strengthen ties with Japan, with which it has maintained friendly relations for a long time, in order to avoid international isolation following stalled negotiations between Tehran and the United States and European countries regarding the nuclear deal. Reuters has not yet received a comment from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Kyodo also highlighted that Kishida and Raisi are expected to discuss reports regarding Iran's supply of drones to Russia, which invaded Ukraine. Furthermore, Raisi is expected to invite Kishida to visit Iran and seek the release of Iranian assets frozen in Japan due to U.S. sanctions, valued at approximately three billion dollars. Resource-poor Japan is aiming to enhance its energy security as it remains heavily reliant on imports of oil and liquefied natural gas, sourcing over 90 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East.
