In Japan, Israeli PM calls for action on Iran

TOKYO (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called Monday for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear drive as he started a rare visit to Japan, which maintains trade ties with the Islamic republic.

Olmert is the first Israeli prime minister since 1997 to visit Japan and his trip is largely aimed at stepping up business with the world's second largest economy.

Olmert travelled to Tokyo ahead of a meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- along with Germany on possibly stepping up sanctions on Iran.

"I hope that further sanctions will be taken against Iran," Olmert told reporters on his plane as he arrived for the four-day stay that will include talks with his counterpart Yasuo Fukuda and an audience with Emperor Akihito.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday in its latest report that it had made "quite good progress" in its four year-probe into Tehran's nuclear drive.

But crucially, the nuclear watchdog headed by Mohamed ElBaradei said it was still not in a position to determine if Iran's programmes were peaceful.

"The ElBaradei report shows that Iran is pursuing its nuclear programme. If the report had been drafted by Israel, it would have been much clearer," Olmert said.

"The basic fact doesn't change. There is a plan to make non-conventional weapons and it must be stopped," he said.

Japan has maintained cordial ties with Iran both before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which transformed Tehran from one of Israel's closest friends into a vociferous foe.

Japan is dependent on the Middle East for nearly all of its oil. Tokyo has taken a lower profile than its Western allies in pressuring Iran on its nuclear drive, although in 2006 it pulled out of a project to develop Iran's largest onshore oil field.

Olmert suggested a link, which has been alleged before, between Iran and Japan's arch-rival North Korea, which tested an atom bomb in 2006.

"Iran is the epitome of recklessness, of extremity, of irresponsibility on the highest political level," Olmert told Japanese public broadcaster NHK ahead of his visit.

"And I think North Korea is as well. The combination of these two together is certainly dangerous for the stability of the region," he added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has frequently lashed out at Israel, predicting the Jewish state's demise and downplaying the extent of the Holocaust.

Japan has been seeking a greater role in the Middle East peace process in recent years in line with its aspirations for larger global influence.

It has been a major donor to the Palestinian Authority and spearheaded a project to create jobs in the West Bank by building an agro-industrial park.

Japan "wants to be involved in the peace process," Olmert told reporters.

"This trip is about our bilateral relations with Japan, which must be strengthened both on the political and economic levels," Olmert said.

"Japan is one of the most important countries in the world on the economic front. For us, it's a large commercial partner that can become even larger," he said.

Israel has a widening trade deficit with Japan, whose companies have relatively little investment in the Jewish state despite the strong technology sectors in both countries.

The Israeli premier, a former finance minister, was accompanied by a delegation of business people who will look for investment and explore the possibility of starting direct flights between Tokyo and Tel Aviv.

Olmert had no public schedule Monday. He was expected to meet in Tokyo with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is in the region to attend South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak's inauguration Monday.