Iran’s foreign minister says his country views diplomacy and dialogue as the only viable solution to current regional and global challenges.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone conversation with his Japanese counterpart Hayashi Yoshimasa on Wednesday, in which the two top diplomats discussed bilateral, regional and global issues.

According to a statement issued by Iran’s foreign ministry, Amir-Abdollahian expressed Tehran’s commitment to further deepen ties with Japan, which has a long-established history.

The Japanese foreign minister, for his part, said friendly relations between Tehran and Tokyo were of high importance, the statement noted.

The two top diplomats also discussed ongoing efforts aimed at the revival of the nuclear deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The talks to revive the deal, underway since April 2021 in Vienna, remain stalled since last August due to the policy of procrastination and foot-dragging adopted by the Joe Biden administration in Washington.

Yoshimasa also said he is pleased with the “positive trend” of cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), referring to recent meetings between the IAEA officials and Iranian authorities to streamline cooperation.

The ministers also exchanged views on the conflict in Ukraine, and the top Iranian diplomat reiterated Tehran’s opposition to the year-long war.

Iran has under the government headed by President Ebrahim Raeisi adopted an eastward foreign policy approach, emphasizing the importance of bolstering ties with Asian countries, including Japan.

By Press TV