In an exclusive interview with IRNA here, the foreign minister further stressed the importance for Iran and Japan to play a decisive role in the international nuclear disarmament issues as well.

Okada was talking to IRNA just a few days after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave an interview to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency in which he stressed that there could never be any distances between Iran and Japan.

He said Tehran-Tokyo ties were built on mutual trust and friendship, stressing that he, too, like other Japanese officials was keen to work to expand bilateral relations.

Describing himself as a friend of Iran, he said he expected Iranian officials to take a bold decision regarding the statements issued against Iran by the United Nations Security Council.

Turning to the Tehran Declaration which was signed by Iran, Brazil and Turkey, he believed that was a good step towards trust-building in the international arena.

Okada voiced his country’s readiness to cooperate with Iran on peaceful nuclear energy programs provided the global conditions were apt for such a collaboration.

Criticizing international double standards in treating nuclear issues, he said the number of countries which possess nuclear arms should not increase because such a growth will not benefit the international community.