Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expressed regret on Friday over the outbreak of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan in a message relayed to his Japanese counterpart, Takeaki Matsumoto.

11/3/2011
Salehi expressed hope that the great nation of Japan will overcome the difficulties arising from the natural disasters of earthquake and tsunami.

Sympathizing with the government and people of Japan, Iran's foreign minister voiced readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide the quake victims of Japan with necessary assistance.

An 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit the northeastern coast of Japan early Friday triggering 7.4- to 10-meter tsunamis in the region.

Hundreds of people were killed and injured. A large number of people are still missing after tsunamis hurled the cars into the ocean and houses were swamped as a result of devastating earthquake and tsunamis.