TEHRAN – Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf in a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yabo Naka on Friday criticized the West’s double standard policy toward Iran’s nuclear activities and asked Japan to disapprove of this approach.

“There is an expectation that Japan, as a liberal and civilized country, criticize the double-standards by the major powers.”
Qalibaf was visiting Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government.
He emphasized that Iran has fulfilled all its commitments based on the NPT and all its nuclear activities are done under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“Whereas some countries in such regions as East Asia and the Middle East have nuclear weapons, an ambiguity arises that if the West is really worried about the proliferation of nuclear weapons why such regimes are supported by the United States and even attempt to draw up nuclear contracts outside the agency’s framework.”
Ghlibaf said Iran even suspended its nuclear enrichment programs for two years but as the Westerners did not keep their promises, Tehran reached the “conclusion that the dual approach of the West will frustrate these attempts at building trust.”
The mayor pointed out that Iran had started its nuclear activities even before the victory the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
“The Iranian nation and government think that the United States tries to deprive us of our natural right.”
He said Japan can play an important role in rectifying the West’s approach toward Iran’s nuclear activities.
“The Iranian nation has been a victim of weapons of mass destruction during the war… and the Japanese nation has also been the victim of the United States’ nuclear bombs. Therefore, I think we can understand each other easily. So, there is an expectation that you play the essential role and as a liberal and civilized country criticize the double-standards of the major powers.”
Tehran mayor was referring to the use of chemical and biological weapons against Iranian civilians and forces by the Saddam regime in the 1980s and the nuclear bombardment of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S. at the end of World War II.
Qalibaf also praised Japan’s interest to expand ties with Iran. “We believe that there are proper grounds for cooperation in economic and technological fields between Tokyo and Tehran.”
Yabo Naka expressed his gratitude to Qalibaf for accepting the invitation of the Japanese government.
He also expressed hope that Iran gets its key status in the world.
“Iran is an important country and its developments are also important” to many countries especially Japan.
The Japanese top diplomat said world is vigorously looking to the 2009 presidential elections in Iran