Following is an exclusive interview with Yukio Okamoto, advisor to Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Q= We are aware of Japan's sensitivities about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD.) So despite Iran's transparent nuclear energy program and a close cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a statement by the IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei that no evidence has been found that Iran has been seeking a nuclear weapons program, your ambassador took a hard stance against Iran at the IAEA session held in Vienna, why?

A= I was not only surprised but shocked to know the Iranian interpretation of Japan's position. All we were trying to do was to get international consensus. It was very clear that the U.S. would not accept the European resolution. Washington has a stronger stance. So in order to keep the U.S. in international consensus we had to come up with a resolution that was maybe tougher than the European resolution but that served to bring the U.S. into international consensus. Therefore, I think we prevented Washington from taking unilateral actions.

We also had Foreign Minister (Kamal) Kharrazi's successful visit to Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi and he took Mr. Kharrazi's presentation very sincerely. We took his opinion into our policy and we opposed the matter to be referred to the UN Security Council; to protect Iran we also opposed to declaring non-compliance on Iranian measures. So you may be feeling unhappy about the rhetoric that was inserted in the resolution but the two most important points of non-referral of Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council and non-declaration of non-compliance were kept and I think we did a good job in consolidating the international position around those points. So here in Tehran, I was shocked to hear that Japan is classified in this unfriendly contribution whereas what we did really was based on Japan-Iranian friendship relationships; we were trying to seek middle ground. Q= Hassan Rowhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said in a press conference that Iran will downgrade its economic ties with those states that acted against it at the IAEA session. So what is your response? Is your visit here an attempt to assuage Iran in this regard?

A= I did not meet Mr. Rowhani this time. I met Iran's Vice-President, Foreign Minister and also the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. We requested a meeting with Mr. Rowhani but we were told by the Iranian side that it could not be arranged. Through these meetings, I explained very clearly the position of Japan, which I have described to you just now, and I am sure our sincerity and the intention to be understood by the Iranian side is rather to protect Iran by bringing the U.S. into the consensus. I do not think we will be treated unfairly in our economic activities in Iran, far from it. Q= You have been working for the Japanese foreign ministry for 23 years and some consider you as an expert on the U.S. affairs, so why does the U.S. not obey the will of the international community (for example by attacking Iraq) and Japan tacitly approved the U.S. war against Iraq in spite of the fact that Japan itself has been a victim of the war during the Second World War?

A= Japan did not tacitly support the U.S. but clearly supported the U.S. military action against Iraq because we thought the people of Iraq were suffering under a tyrant regime, but before that Saddam Hussein violated 14 UN Security Council resolutions and he refused to present evidence of destroying WMD. The situation was not a matter of whether he had or had not WMD. He clearly possessed WMD and used it. I was in Halabchah a few months ago and observed the sight of the killing of 20,000 people. They also used it against 50,000 Iranian soldiers and when Saddam Hussein refused to prove that he had destroyed weapons of mass destruction he did not cooperate with the UN inspection team. Of course, we are against the use of force but it was the last resort. Therefore, when the U.S. went into the military action we supported it. Q= But your government tacitly supported an attack before the war started, wasn't it so?

A= No, but when the U.S. actually used its force, we supported it. Prime Minister Koizumi had been saying that the use of force must be the last resort, before that every effort must be spent through diplomatic negotiations. Therefore, Japan talked with all the Security Council member countries to find a way for a peaceful resolution but unfortunately, Saddam Hussein refused all that. Q= Japanese public opinion is against sending troops to Iraq how can you convince them about troop deployment there?

A= There is a split of national opinion. Some people are against and some people are supporting and we have no yet made our decision in sending troops but you have to understand that Japanese troops, if they are sent are not for combat purposes but for humanitarian assistance. Therefore, what we have in mind is to send these troops for water supply and medical assistance. Q= Would you please elaborate on the nature of cooperation between Iran and Japan both in terms of security and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan?

A= It is wonderful to have Iran engaged in the reconstruction process of the two countries. Iran has great potentiality and a good will and has been a victim of instability in the region. We know that Iran wishes stability and peace in the region so it can be a very constructive and good partner. I have talked extensively about these issues with your leaders and we would like to find an appropriate means to cooperate with Iran for the reconstruction of the two countries. Q= Japan and Iran enjoy old ties and both countries are owners of civilizations so isn't it better to continue and promote this relationship as before?

A= Iran is a very important country for Japan and there have been very special and unique relationships right after the Islamic revolution between Iran and Japan for more than 20 years and we really like to build upon this long tradition of the close ties between the two countries. There are some misunderstandings and maybe lack of explanation of our position on our part about the IAEA issue. We did not explain to you what tough negotiations we had with the U.S. to bring it into the international consensus so there was a lack of communication and misunderstanding on the other part. However, I do not think these issues are fundamentally serious problems because Japanese intentions are very clear to enhance friendly ties with Iran. So let us start from there for our future cooperation. Q= Do you carry any message from Japanese officials to Iranian officials?

A= I carry a very important message from the prime minister to find every avenue to enhance a friendly relationship with Iran. He is personally very committed to the furthering of the ties between the two countries.