Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called Monday for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear drive as he started a rare visit to Japan, which maintains trade ties with the Islamic republic.

Olmert is the first Israeli prime minister since 1997 to visit Japan and his trip is largely aimed at stepping up business with the world's second largest economy.

Olmert travelled to Tokyo ahead of a meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- along with Germany on possibly stepping up sanctions on Iran.

"I hope that further sanctions will be taken against Iran," Olmert told reporters on his plane as he arrived for the four-day stay that will include talks with his counterpart Yasuo Fukuda and an audience with Emperor Akihito.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday in its latest report that it had made "quite good progress" in its four year-probe into Tehran's nuclear drive.

But crucially, the nuclear watchdog headed by Mohamed ElBaradei said it was still not in a position to determine if Iran's programmes were peaceful.

"The ElBaradei report shows that Iran is pursuing its nuclear programme. If the report had been drafted by Israel, it would have been much clearer," Olmert said.

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