Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday reiterated Japan's support for the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement in his meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, as talks continue to salvage the accord reached between the Middle Eastern country and major powers, the government said.

Meeting Raisi in New York on the fringes of the U.N. General Assembly's annual session, they had a "candid" exchange of opinions, with Kishida saying Japan has "consistently supported" the nuclear deal and hopes that Tehran returns to the agreement that restricts Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, according to the Foreign Ministry.

They agreed to maintain close communication on the issue, the ministry added.