Japan: No Nuclear Deal's Violation by Iran

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said on Friday Tokyo supports the Iran nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and confirms Tehran has not violated the accord.

"Japan supports the Iran agreement … So far, we have not confirmed any violation by Iran," Kono said during a press conference at the United Nations, Sputnik reported.

JCPOA was signed in July 2015 between Iran and six major powers, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany.

In effect since January 2016, the deal stipulates the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for assurances that Iranian nuclear program will remain peaceful.

In a recent article published by the New York Times, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, "The nuclear deal is a rare triumph of diplomacy over confrontation. Undermining that would be a mistake. Europe should not pander to Washington's determination to shift focus to yet another unnecessary crisis—whether it be Iran's defensive missile program or our influence in the Middle East."

Zarif also said Iranian military capabilities are only defensive and have only been used against "a few equally heinous adversaries", namely the regime of Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein and terrorist groups such as the self-styled Islamic State.

Kono said Tokyo and Tehran share a "very good relationship", adding that the status of bilateral ties will not hamper Japan's actions against North Korea.

The top diplomat also said Japan will continue to work with Iran to help promote stability in the Middle East.

Kono and top diplomats from the international community were in New York on Friday to attend the UN Security Council's ministerial meeting on countermeasures against North Korea.