DHAKA: Japan’s foreign minister will go to Iran next month, he said on Tuesday, in the latest sign of Teheran’s rapidly thawing relationship with the Western world.

Fumio Kishida said he plans a three day trip from November 9, the day after Iranian negotiators wrap up talks with world powers in Geneva over the country’s nuclear programme, reports The Straits Times.

Western nations, led by the United States, have long suspected that Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb, but Teheran denies this, saying its nuclear programme is peaceful.

It has endured years of sanctions and defied multiple UN Security Council resolutions under hardline leaders.

BDST: 1338 HRS, OCT 29, 2013
RoR/BSK