EghtesadOnline: The Iranian government hopes President Hassan Rouhani's upcoming visit to Japan to discuss Tokyo's peace initiative for the Middle East will help defuse tensions in the volatile region, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman said.

EghtesadOnline: The Japanese premier's upcoming visit to Tehran with the perceived aim of mediating between Iran and the United States is likely to help reduce the existing tensions although no significant breakthrough is expected, an expert on international affairs said.