Kawaguchi will stay in Iran until Wednesday, after which she will visit the United Arab Emirates' capital, Abu Dhabi.

In Iran on Tuesday, Kawaguchi will meet separately President Mohammad Khatami and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi.

Kawaguchi plans to express her condolences for the losses caused by a massive earthquake that shattered the southeastern town of Bam on December 26, killing some 30,000 people, the foreign ministry said.

Kawaguchi will discuss Japan's pledge of some one million dollars in quake aid, and explain Japan's decision to send troops to Iraq to help with reconstruction and humanitarian assistance, a ministry official said.

The minister will also urge Iran to continue to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after Tehran last month signed the additional protocols of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which opens the way for snap inspections of sites, the official said.

In Abu Dhabi, Kawaguchi is to meet deputy premier and foreign minister Hamadan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to discuss the situation in Iraq and Japan's troop deployment.

She is also to give an interview on Thursday morning to Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite channel, before returning to Japan on Friday.

TERRA.WIRE