Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani on a visit to Tehran this week, in a bid to ease tension between Washington and Iran that experts called a bold move for a Japanese leader. He will meet Mr. Rouhani on Wednesday and Ayatollah Khamenei the next day, before leaving Tehran. Mr. Abe had spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump by telephone to discuss Iran, Mr. Suga told a news conference. Mr. Abe is in a unique position, thanks to his close ties to Mr. Trump, cultivated since the U.S. leader took office, and Tokyo's friendly relations with Iran, diplomatic experts said. “Abe is trying to play the role of messenger and ease the tension,” said Toshihiro Nakayama, a Japan Fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington.

Source: The Hindu June 11, 2019 06:23 UTC