Japan to take part if sanctions put on Iran: Aso

Tokyo, June 22: Japan would take part if the international community imposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, Japan's foreign minister said today, but added that it was too soon to be talking about such action.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso also told Reuters in an interview that he had urged Iranian officials to seriously consider a US-backed package of incentives to stop its nuclear activity that could lead to atomic weapons, saying the offer was supported by the Group of Eight and other industrialised nations.

''It is not constructive to talk about sanctions now, before they reply,'' Aso said.

''But it is very much an option. Japan would not fail to join if everyone took concerted action.'' The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany have offered Iran a package of incentives, including access to advance civilian nuclear technology, but says Iran must first suspend enrichment before any discussions can start.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday said Tehran would respond to the proposal by August. 22, but the six powers want Iran to reply within weeks.

The West believes Iran wants to make highly enriched uranium for atomic bombs, but Tehran insists its only wants to make the low-level enriched fuel used in nuclear power station.

Resource-poor Japan has been in a dilemma over Iran's nuclear programme, caught between a desire for stable energy supply and the need to stay in tune with its close ally, the United States.

Reuters

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