Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Thursday he will go ahead with his trip to Iran despite pressure from the Japanese government not to do so.
Hatoyama, who leaves for Tehran later Friday, said the purpose of his four-day visit is to urge the Iranian government to give up its nuclear program, Fuji TV reported. He said he was going in a private capacity because he was concerned about escalating tensions and the threat to the world's oil supply.
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba asked Hatoyama not to go to Iran, Fuji TV reported. Gemba said it is very awkward for the Japanese government to make diplomatic efforts through official channels while a former prime minister goes off on his own.
© Japan Today
19 Comments
Login to comment
Cricky
Ozawa must have sent him, a lap dog does not make decisions like this unless the aliens told him to go.
paulinusa
"...the purpose of his four-day visit is to urge the Iranian government to give up its nuclear program, Fuji TV reported."
Four days of "urging"? And he has to make a personal visit? Somehow I think there will be more to his visit behind the scenes.
Gurukun
He'll probably say something stupid, or make a stupid promise. Sound familiar?
Sherman
Maybe he will tell Iran they can have Japans US Marines from Okinawa
GW
This moma's boy cant beat his way outta a wet paper bag, this mission(haha!) is stupid!
The chances of this clown doing damage is very high!
Scrote
The buffoon Hatoyama must be feeling left out of all the action, so he plans a trip to Japan to get himself some publicity. Somehow I doubt Hatoyama's "urging" will have much effect on the Iranians.
YuriOtani
Wish him luck, why Japan should be an enemy of Iran is unknown.
Sherman
YuriOtani
Japan will be an enemy after Hatoyama visits.
Gurukun
Or Armadenijad, or what ever the morons name is, will think that Japan also has somebody as stupid as himself in government.
rickyvee
what's the point of his urging if he's only acting in the capacity as a "private citizen"? he can't offer anything tangible the iranians would want, unless he gives them his 10 million yen a month allowance from his mommy. what a maroon!!
serendipitous
Hey, if Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton can do it, surely Hatoyama can!!
hatsoff
Hatoyama taking it upon himself to be an influential figure on the world stage? Don't make me laugh. He had his chance as PM and failed miserably. There is something fishy going on here.
YuriOtani
Hatoyama going to Iran is a snub in the face of the Americans. After all they were the ones behind his removal from office. The American government did what amounts to a coup to the leader of a sovereign country and alley. Why because he listened to the people of Okinawa. Hatoyama needs to pick himself up and get back in the game. To all gaijin, do not interfere in the internal politics of sovereign Nippon! The current President of the United States and his state department interfered with our internal politics.
BessonovYan
May be Haoyama will visit for oil interests of Japanese companies that need more oil from Iran. But Iran can not lose atom. Iran want hi-tech progress as NK. Japanese companies can be more aggressive to USA and China for defence of own oil interests.
hatsoff
Yuri - you confuse influence with interference, and in doing so you sound eerily similar to China and North Korea. Influence is something that happens on the world stage. Is Japan isolationist now? The truth is, if Japan really did reject all assistance from the USA, China would be straight on to the Senkaku Islands and North korea would be firing missiles at you.
It’s right for Japan to have a stronger voice on the world stage, but that muppet Hatoyama has simply never cut the mustard. Don't tell me you'll settle for anyone and anything. It has to be someone with gravitas and influence, that can work in Japan's favour.
BessonovYan
@hatsoffApr. 07, 2012 - 10:44AM JST
Are you know that Japan is buy about 5% oil from Iran? Also Japan is biggest creditor for USA. So who to whom is help?
Really? :D
hatsoff
BessonovYan - yes, really.
warnerbro
Hatoyama's going to Iran. Good show. But wait, "visit"? Does that mean he's coming back? Can't Iran keep him for us?
BessonovYan
@hatsoffApr. 08, 2012 - 12:48PM JST
So such unreal. USA and China are two cats that play the game with japanese mouse.