Rouhani heads to Japan as Abe seeks US-Iran deal

Iran's president has embarked on a trip that will take him to Japan, a host that has been scrambling to mediate some Tehran-Washington rapprochement at a critical time for the Iranian economy.
TEHRAN, June 13, 2019 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe L and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attend a joint press conference in Tehran, Iran, June 12, 2019. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the Islamic republic welcomes Japan's efforts for the development of mutual ties as well as regional and international cooperation. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz via Getty Images)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attend a joint press conference in Tehran, Iran, June 12, 2019. - Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz via Getty Images
Al Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East
Al-Monitor Staff

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took off from Tehran Dec. 17 to visit Malaysia and Japan in what is seen as a major diplomatic push to save an economy severely battered by US sanctions. Rouhani will be in the Malaysian capital for the high-profile Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 on international development.

But it is the second leg of his trip, taking him to Tokyo, that has grabbed media attention. The Iranian president will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Dec. 20 in a highly anticipated summit expected to revolve around Japan-led mediation between Tehran and Washington.

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