Japan, Iran to begin talks on bilateral investment pact on Monday

Japan and Iran will begin negotiations next week in Tehran to conclude a bilateral investment treaty, Kyodo news agency quoted the Japanese Foreign Ministry as saying on Friday.

Japan's move to launch the three-day talks on Monday comes as the Japanese government plans to keep in step with the United States and Europe in lifting economic sanctions on Iran after an accord to diplomatically resolve Tehran's nuclear program was reached in July, government officials said.

Under the historic deal reached between Iran and six major powers -- the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- the sanctions will be lifted in stages in return for Iran agreeing on long-term reductions of its nuclear program.