The government on Tuesday urged a state-backed consortium of Japanese firms to delay signing a contract on an Iranian oil development project, citing international suspicion that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Japan will not go ahead with the contract until it is clear that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons.
The proliferation of nuclear weapons is a major concern for Japan as the nation also fears North Korea is developing nuclear arms, Fukuda told a regular news conference.