Japanese FM Taro Aso and Secretary Rice confirmed their cooperation in resolving Iran's nuclear row during a 10-minute phone conversation on Monday. Aso told Rice that Japan was ready to play an "active role" in urging Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Rice replied that Washington would keep in close contact with Tokyo over the Iranian nuclear issue ahead of PM Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the U.S. later this month.
While calling on Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment program, Japan has previously voiced caution about imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. Being almost entirely dependent on foreign oil, Japan is a major investor in Iran and maintains close ties with the Islamic regime, despite repeated U.S. calls to review its ties.
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