Japan hopes to continue talks with Iran on tapping the Azadegan oil field beyond the Saturday deadline set by Tehran for the nation's participation, new Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari says.

"I don't believe Iran is really willing to stop talks so easily at this time," Amari said in an interview Wednesday, noting Iran should heed international calls to halt its nuclear enrichment activities and also clear land mines around the oil field so the project can start.

Japan's Inpex Corp. was granted a concession to develop Azadegan, one of the largest oil fields in the world, with expected production of 260,000 barrels a day. But Inpex has not started on the project because of international pressures being exerted over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the firm's claim that land mines also pose a hindrance.