Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that Tokyo is in discussions about a possible Japan visit by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later this month, an attempt to try to resolve Iran's nuclear impasse with the United States.

He also said Japan wants to make every possible effort to promote Middle East peace.

Japan maintains friendly ties with both the United States and Iran, and has previously tried to ease tension between the two countries, which broke off diplomatic relations after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

(Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Toby Chopra) ((elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-4563-2748; Reuters Messaging: elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com))