Softer side of diplomacy seen in US and Iran exchange

UNITED NATIONS/TOKYO－US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft made a rare compassionate public gesture toward her Iranian counterpart in the UN Security Council chamber on Thursday.

Since Washington pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, tensions between the administrations in Washington and Teheran have risen.

But after a contentious UN Security Council meeting on compliance with the 2015 accord between world powers and Iran, Craft walked over to talk to Iran's UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi.

Ravanchi had spoken about a two-year old girl during his statement to the 15-member council. He said the girl had died in June from a rare disease and blamed the death on US sanctions.

An official from the US mission to the United Nations said Craft was expressing her condolences to Ravanchi.

Since US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal, his administration has reimposed sanctions on Teheran with the aim of choking Iranian crude oil sales, the Islamic Republic's main source of revenues.

'Nightmare' for patients

But as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign, Washington has also sanctioned dozens of Iranian entities, companies and individuals to cut Teheran's revenue, a move some analysts have suggested may have forced Iran to act more aggressively.

Ravanchi had told the council: "It is a shame that the US bullying has resulted in discontinuation of export of certain medicines to Iran, causing nightmare for some patients."

He then went on to tell the council that the Iranian toddler, named Ava, was unable to get the treatment she needed.

Craft had told the Security Council: "The United States is willing to engage in dialogue with Iran to negotiate a deal that will better serve international peace and security. But we will not sit idly by while Iran continues to destabilize the region."

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani became the first Iranian head of state to visit Japan for two decades on Friday, as Tokyo seeks to mediate between Teheran and Washington.

Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei had played down the mediation aspect of the trip, saying the visit to Tokyo had "nothing to do with issues such as negotiations with the US".

However, he acknowledged that "our Japanese friends usually convey messages or initiatives, which we welcome ... and seriously examine".

With Japan being a key US ally that also maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tried to build bridges between the two rival powers.

Last week, Abe said he would strive "as much as possible to ease tensions" in the Middle East, noting Japan's alliance with Washington and "favorable relations" with Teheran.