IRNA � Japan is going to join the fire extinguishing operation of an Iranian tanker which caught fire following a crash in East China coast on Saturday night, according to an official.

Mohsen Bahrami, spokesman for the crisis committee following up the situation of the missing Iranian seamen, said that Iran's request for Japan's aid comes as the Chinese are moving very cautiously in dealing with the incident.

An American company has signaled readiness to help the operation, but as it lacked the necessary equipment, it could not act promptly, Bahrami said.

Confirming that the body found in East China waters belongs to an Iranian national, Bahrami said that the identity of the body is not clear yet.

He said that it will be time-consuming to extinguish the fire of the Iranian tanker because it carried gas condensates which are more volatile than gasoline.

An Iranian tanker carrying condensates collided with a Chinese freight ship in East China coast on Saturday night. Ever since, all the 32 crew members on board the tanker have gone missing.

Thirty of the crew members were Iranian, with two others being Bangladeshi.