SNA (Mashhad) — A delegation led by Ambassador of Japan to Iran Kazutoshi Ikawa traveled to Mashhad, the second-largest Iranian city, at the end of December, looking to deepen bilateral links in the region.

During the visit, Ikawa met Mashhad Mayor Seyed Abdullah Arjaei and held wide-ranging negotiations.

“We are ready for bilateral cooperation with Mashhad in the fields of economy and waste management,” the ambassador announced. “So far, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has had good cooperation regarding waste management in Mashhad, one of the most successful JICA collaborations.”

The Japanese ambassador also welcomed a suggestion from Arjaei regarding the holding of joint meetings between the municipality and the Japanese private sector: “This proposal is excellent and can lead to good results,” he said.

The ambassador continued, “Japanese private sector companies have maintained their presence in Iran after the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. These companies are poised to deepen their connections with Iran’s economy, and we hope that Mashhad will create suitable conditions for Japanese firms.”

Mashhad’s mayor responded that his municipality is ready to cooperate with Japanese firms to build durable and cheap houses, and to generate electricity from waste materials.

Arjaei added, “Three agreements have been signed between Japan and Mashhad during the last ten years, and these can be extended and continued. Mashhad is poised to host a specialized meeting with Japanese companies that are ready to invest in the city.”

Mashhad is the capital of Khorasan Razavi Province, northeastern Iran, and is regarded locally as a holy city. It is the burial place of Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, the eighth imam in Twelver Shiism. Millions of Shia Muslims around the world traveled annually to Mashhad before the onset of the pandemic.

If the US Biden administration agrees to reenter the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal, in coming weeks, there is every reason to believe that Japan-Iran economic ties could reach new heights.

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