Lift on ban may be Japan's boon

Japan seems to be the front-runner in bringing Iran to agree to curb its nuclear weapons ambitions, as this economic giant of Asia could be a major importer of Iranian crude can help in bringing Tehran to the negotiating table. But, will it be so easy for Tokyo to resist repeated pressure from Washington? Notably, following soaring US-Japan relations on this issue, Tokyo eventually cut imports drastically and relinquished its interests in several up-stream projects, such as the huge Azadegan oil field. But, as now the deal is signed and sanctions have been lifted, Tokyo may get back in the game. It would be interesting to see what happens in the next few months, including whether US Congress re-imposes sanctions or declares the agreement invalid. The White House, in particular, wants to force foreign firms out of Iran. But, since Japan was always unwilling to the sanction participant in the sanctions scheme because of its total dependence on the Middle East in petroleum imports, curtailing imports from Iran would affect it badly. Perhaps that is why Japanese PM Shinzo Abe met Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines in New York at the United Nations General Assembly meeting.