Mid-May energy talks with U.S. set

Japan and the United States are arranging bilateral talks on energy for mid-May, Japanese government officials said Thursday.

The talks, covering a wide range of energy issues, are expected to center on how to cope with the increasing demand for energy in Asia and developing next-generation nuclear reactors, they said.

During preparatory talks held in July, participants discussed whether Japan should seek a development project in the Azadegan oil field in southwestern Iran, according to the officials.

The U.S. was then pushing Japan not to pursue the project in one of the world's largest oil fields, due to concerns that Iran was developing nuclear weapons.

But Japan reached an agreement with Iran in February after Iran said it would accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which softened Washington's attitude.