A foreign affairs expert close to the Iranian government has indicated it will be difficult for Tokyo to serve as a mediator between Washington and Tehran if it doesn't resume imports of Iranian oil.
Professor Mohammad Marandi of the University of Tehran spoke after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Iranian leaders in the Middle Eastern nation on Wednesday and Thursday.
Marandi said Iran will think Japan is just obeying the administration of US President Donald Trump, if Japan doesn't start purchasing Iranian oil again.
Japan stopped importing Iranian oil after the US ended the waivers that had allowed Japan and other nations to buy oil from Iran without facing US sanctions.
Marandi said Japan has to resume buying Iranian oil and restore economic relations, if it wants to play a "strong role."
Marandi added Iran has no interest in speaking with the US, unless Washington implements the nuclear deal and suspends economic warfare or economic terrorism against Iranians.
Last year, Trump pulled the US out of the nuclear deal that Iran struck with world powers in 2015. The agreement required Tehran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. After withdrawing from the deal, Washington re-imposed sanctions against Tehran.
At a joint news conference with Abe on Wednesday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said a main cause of the friction in the region is the American economic war against the people of Iran.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Abe during their meeting on Thursday that Iran does not trust the US. He added that no wise and proud nation would accept negotiations under pressure.
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