Japan foreign minister eyes visit to Iran in Aug.: sources July 10, 2021 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on July 6, 2021. (Kyodo) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is planning to visit Iran, possibly in mid-August, to build ties with its new government led by a conservative hard-liner, diplomatic sources said Friday. Motegi is expected to meet his Iranian counterpart as Japan aims to strengthen its traditionally friendly ties with Iran and discuss with the administration of President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, an anti-U.S. ultraconservative cleric, issues related to Tehran's nuclear program, the sources said.