Japan and Iran are making final arrangements for their leaders to hold talks on Dec. 20, a source close to bilateral relations said Wednesday.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is planning to arrive in Japan on the evening of Dec. 19 for a three-day visit after stopping in Malaysia, where he is expected to attend a conference, the source said.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said his government — through its own diplomatic initiative — wants to help ease tensions in the Middle East. He confirmed that Rouhani's visit was being arranged during a news conference in Tokyo on Monday but did not give a date.