Japan’s foreign minister was preparing Friday to fly to Tehran where he hoped to leverage Tokyo’s friendship and cement progress made in talks with world powers over curbing Iran’s nuclear drive

Japan's foreign minister was preparing Friday to fly to Tehran where he hoped to leverage Tokyo's friendship and cement progress made in talks with world powers over curbing Iran's nuclear drive.
  
Fumio Kishida was set to leave Tokyo overnight Friday for a meeting with his Iranian opposite number on Saturday, along with a courtesy call on president Sheikh Hasan Rouhani.
  
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has been in talks with the so-called P5+1 in Geneva, said on Friday it may be possible to reach a deal on Iran’s nuclear program.
  
The issue will likely dominate meetings in Tehran, and Kishida is expected to press home the view that "Iran should respond to mounting international expectations of the Rouhani administration," a Japanese foreign ministry official said.
  
"As this window of opportunity is open for only a limited period, Iran should proactively show flexibility to solve the problem and restore trust among the international community," he said.