Japan requires Iran to stop uranium enrichment program

Japan's foreign minister on Tuesday urged Iran to comply with a resolution by the U.N. atomic watchdog calling on Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment program, according to a government statement. In a telephone conversation with Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said he hoped Tehran would make "a wise decision" on the nuclear issue after International Atomic Energy Agency last month adopted a resolution which found the country in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

"As the only country that has suffered a nuclear attack, strengthening and extending the NPT system is a matter of principle," the statement quoted Machimura as saying.

Mottaki said Iran's development of atomic energy sources was for peaceful purposes, adding that Tehran had complied with all IAEA safeguards, and would continue to cooperate with the watchdog, according to the statement.

The conversation came as Iranian diplomats signaled Tehran may grant access to sites linked to possible work on nuclear weapons and comply with other IAEA demands to avoid referral to the U.N. Security Council.

Besides seeking access to two military sites, the agency wants to interview military officials thought to be associated with Iran's nuclear program and inspect documents linked to Tehran's uranium enrichment program, AP reports.