Iranian official: Iran-Japan ties should be expanded

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili called for expansion of ties between Iran and Japan, Press TV reported Sunday. In a meeting with visiting Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki in Tehran on Saturday, Jalili said Iran has successfully expanded its relations with other countries since the victory of the Islamic revolution in 1979. The long-standing friendship and relations between Iran and Japan should also be enhanced, Jalili was quoted as saying. For his part, Saiki described Tokyo-Tehran relations as historical and cordial, adding that increased bilateral cooperation would serve the interests of the two countries. According to Press TV, the Japanese deputy foreign minister arrived in Iran Saturday to attend a meeting of the Iran-Japan political committee, which will be held Sunday.