Japan is calling on Iran to give International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors full access to its nuclear facilities.
In response to growing concern in the international community over Iran's nuclear program, Senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told Iranian Ambassador to Japan Ali Majedi on Friday his country should "fully cooperate with the IAEA and immediately and unconditionally sign and implement an additional protocol," a Foreign Ministry official said.
The additional protocol would enable the IAEA to conduct inspections without prior notification.
Majedi responded that the nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and said he will notify Tehran of Japan's request, the official said.
Motegi was quoted as telling Majedi that Japan is strongly concerned about Iran's nuclear program, and that Japan places top priority on nuclear nonproliferation.
The request followed a statement adopted earlier this month by the IAEA's board of governors that expressed concern over Iran's nuclear program.