A test of character for Japan

The Japanese delegation to the United Nations has accepted a request to chair the U.N. Sanctions Committee on Iran.

This year, no countries bid to chair the sanctions committee on Iran, the sources added.

The U.S.A., U.K. and France had to ask Japan to step up to the task.

Given the history of some shall-we-say-selfinterested dealings that Japanese diplomats and commercial interests have had with the Iranian regime over the last 30 years, this is going to be a test of character for Japan to demonstrate that UNSC sanctions mean something.

For all our sakes', let us pass that test.