TOKYO -- Japan's Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima here Friday described the recent visit by Japan's special envoy Taro Nakayama to the Islamic Republic as 'successful.' Nakayama, the former Japanese minister of foreign affairs, Sunday arrived in Tehran carrying a message from the Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, for Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.

Takashima told IRNA's reporter that Nakayama had had important talks with Iranian officials regarding the issue of Iraq.

He added that Nakayama had called on the Islamic Republic to support an international urge on Baghdad to comply with UN Security Council resolutions.

The Japanese envoy in his Tehran visit also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and Majlis Vice-Speaker Mohammadreza Khatami.