Japan will not shut down the Iraqi Embassy in Tokyo despite a request from the U.S. to do so, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.

"At this moment in time, we decided it is not appropriate to close down the Iraqi Embassy," Senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a news conference. "After considering various elements, the government believed maintaining official channels with the Iraqi government was important."

The formal decision was conveyed to the U.S. on Tuesday, he said.