The National Police Agency is prepared to mobilize its special counterterrorism unit in the event that U.S. facilities and other designated locations in Japan come under threat of terrorist attack, NPA officials said Wednesday. Should concrete information about a potential attack become known, the Special Assault Team will be mobilized and placed on alert, according to the officials.

The 200-member SAT has its headquarters in Tokyo and units at NPA regional head offices in Hokkaido as well as Osaka, Kanagawa, Chiba, Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures.

The NPA has already beefed up security at some 350 locations nationwide following last month's terror attacks in the United States.

Among these are 153 U.S.-related establishments, including the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, consulates, 70 military bases and ammunition bunkers, and 71 company offices and chambers of commerce, the officials said.

In addition to the Prime Minister's Official Residence and airports, security at all 17 nuclear power plants and other related facilities in 12 of the nation's 47 prefectures has also been strengthened, they said.

Envoy arrives in Iran

TEHRAN (Kyodo) Special envoy Masahiko Komura arrived in Tehran late Tuesday for talks with Iranian government leaders as part of Tokyo's efforts to convey its determination to join the global war against terrorism.

Komura, who has just visited Saudi Arabia and is traveling as a special envoy of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, was scheduled to meet Wednesday with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and deliver a personal letter from Koizumi.

While in Riyadh, Komura delivered a personal letter from Koizumi to Prince Abdullah, Saudi Arabia's deputy prime minister, and briefed him on Japan's commitment to work with the United States and the international community in the fight against terrorism, Japanese officials said. Komura paid a courtesy call on King Fahd before meeting the crown prince.

According to Japanese officials, Prince Abdullah told Komura the U.S. should make sure no innocent people are snared in its probe into last month's terror attacks.

The crown prince, who also serves as commander of the state security forces, said Saudi Arabia believes Osama bin Laden is not the sole culprit behind the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.