Iran brushes off Japan concern on nuclear programme

TEHRAN (AFP/Reuters) - Japan said on Saturday it shared the concerns of world powers over Irans
controversial nuclear programme and urged the Islamic republic to take positive steps towards resolving the
dispute.
Iran meanwhile said it would review the eight-year prison sentence handed down to Iranian-American journalist
Roxana Saberi after she was convicted of spying for the United States.
Japan voices common concerns of the international community on Irans nuclear issue and wants the issue to
be solved based on UN resolutions, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone told a joint news conference with his
Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki.
I frankly said that in order to have progress on the 5-plus-1 negotiations, the Iranian side must take positive
steps, he said of Britain, Russia, France, China, the United States and Germany which have shown an interest
in talks to resolve the nuclear dispute.
However Mottaki brushed off Nakasone, saying Tehrans nuclear programme was similar to Tokyos.
I told my counterpart that Japan had spent years in building trust over its nuclear activity and we are doing the
same thing. Over all these years, nobody asked Japan to freeze or suspend its activity, he said.
Irans nuclear programme is legal and peaceful. It should be looked at in the same way as Japans nuclear
activity is looked at.
Global powers led by Washington suspect Irans nuclear programme is aimed at making atomic weapons, a
charge Tehran vehemently denies.
In a rare policy break with Washington, Tokyo has maintained cordial ties with Tehran since the 1979 Islamic
revolution toppled the pro-Western shah.
In 2006, however, Japan pulled out of a project to develop Irans biggest oil field of Azadegan because of
concerns about Tehrans nuclear ambitions.
Nakasone on Saturday also expressed concern about the fate of US-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi, jailed for
eight years on charges of spying for the United States.
Since her mother is Japanese... from a humanitarian perspective, we are following the case with concern, he
told reporters.
Mottaki said Saberi had violated Iranian laws.
There has been a review request for her and this review will be implemented based on justice and human and
Islamic kindness, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in a joint press conference with Nakasone.
Iranian judiciary officials have said Saberi is in good health and that she is not on hunger strike. Her father Reza
Saberi has described her condition as frail and weak.
The case could complicate Washingtons efforts towards reconciliation with the Islamic Republic after three
decades of mutual mistrust.
Saberi, a freelance journalist and citizen of both the United States and Iran, was arrested in late January for
working in the Islamic country after her press credentials had expired.
The United States says the espionage charges against Saberi, who has reported for the BBC and the U.S.
National Public Radio, were baseless and has demanded her immediate release.
US President Barack Obama has expressed concern for her safety.
Tehran, which does not recognise dual nationality, says Washington should respect the independence of Irans
judiciary.
Irans President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on the prosecutor to ensure Saberi enjoys full legal rights to
defend herself. The judiciary chief has said the appeal must be dealt with in a quick and fair way.