TOKYO: Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia said Japan has expressed willingness to boost its oil import from Iran to 350,000 barrels.
He said Japanese companies have a bright record in cooperation with Iran before they left the country in the wake of international sanctions, IRNA news agency reported Sept. 9.
The official pointed out that recently a delegation of 21 Japanese companies traveled to Iran to discuss joint work on existing opportunities. He reiterated that Iran ’s condition for foreign companies for working in Iran is to choose a powerful Iranian partner.
Tokyo, which is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil, has maintained friendly relations with Tehran through its years of ostracism, keeping up diplomatic dialogue that many developed countries cut off decades ago.
But Tokyo has reduced its Iranian oil imports in recent years under pressure from fellow developed powers backing the US-led sanction regime.
There have also been no new Japanese investments in Iran since 1993, according to official data. There were approximately 30 Japanese firms operating in the country as of July last year.
