Latest news with #TakeshiIwaya

3 hours ago
- Politics
Japan Foreign Minister Urges Israel to Calm Iran Conflict
News from Japan Jun 20, 2025 21:54 (JST) Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya called on Israel to scale back its escalating conflict with Iran, in a phone call to his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, on Friday. Iwaya expressed deep concern over the extensive damage caused by the exchange of attacks by Israel and Iran. He also sought the Israeli government's support for the protection of Japanese nationals in the country, for which Saar offered cooperation. The Japanese foreign minister said that Iran's development of nuclear weapons is unacceptable, while emphasizing the importance of pursuing a resolution to the conflict through dialogue. On the situation in Gaza, Iwaya strongly urged Israel to abide by international law, including international humanitarian law, through actions such as protecting civilians and enhancing humanitarian assistance. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press


The Star
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
87 Japanese nationals, family members evacuated from Iran, Israel
Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya holds a press conference on evacuation of Japanese nationals from Israel and Iran at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on June 20, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) TOKYO: A total of 87 Japanese nationals and their family members have evacuated from Iran and Israel amid intensifying tensions in the Middle East, the Japanese government said Friday (June 20). According to Kyodo news agency, the evacuees arrived by bus in Azerbaijan and Jordan as local airports remained closed and none had health issues, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (pic) said. Of the 87 including six foreigners, 66 left Teheran and arrived in Baku early Friday, while 21 departed from Tel Aviv and reached Amman on Thursday afternoon, the Foreign Ministry said. The government is arranging a bus to evacuate more people from Iran as early as Saturday, Iwaya said. "As the situation remains very tense, the government will protect Japanese citizens with a high sense of urgency," he said. Around 220 Japanese nationals were in Iran and around 1,000 remained in Israel after the evacuations, according to the ministry. Israel and Iran have continued to exchange strikes since the former attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets last week alleging Teheran was close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, a claim denied by the Islamic Republic. - Bernama-Kyodo


Kyodo News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Kyodo News
87 Japanese nationals, family members evacuated from Iran, Israel
KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 18:00 | All, Japan, World A total of 87 Japanese nationals and their family members have evacuated from Iran and Israel amid conflict in the Middle East, the Japanese government said Friday. The evacuees arrived in Azerbaijan's capital Baku and Jordan's capital Amman by bus as local airports remained closed and none of them had health issues, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said. Of the 87, including six foreign nationals, 66 left Tehran and arrived in Baku early Friday, while 21 departed from Tel Aviv and reached Amman on Thursday afternoon, the Foreign Ministry said. The government is arranging additional bus transportation to evacuate more people from Iran as early as Saturday, Iwaya said. "As the situation remains very tense, the government will protect Japanese citizens with a high sense of urgency," he said. Around 220 Japanese nationals remained in Iran and around 1,000 in Israel after the evacuations, according to the ministry. Japan also plans to dispatch two Self-Defense Forces planes to a base in Djibouti in eastern Africa to evacuate its nationals if airports in Iran and Israel reopen, according to Iwaya. Israel and Iran have continued to exchange strikes since the former attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets last week, alleging the Islamic Republic was close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, a claim it denies. With possible U.S. military intervention in the conflict attracting global attention, President Donald Trump has upped pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program by setting a deadline for negotiations. "I will make my decision of whether or not to go within the next two weeks," Trump said in a statement, which was read by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a press briefing on Thursday. Related coverage: Japan to send 2 defense force planes for possible Mideast airlift Japan urges all nationals in Iran to evacuate amid Israeli attacks

6 hours ago
- Politics
Japan Min. Iwaya to Visit Netherlands for G-7 Meet
News from Japan Politics Jun 20, 2025 18:56 (JST) Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday that he will visit The Hague in the Netherlands for three days from Tuesday to attend an anticipated meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers. The meeting is currently being arranged on the sidelines of a NATO summit. The G-7 foreign ministers are expected to discuss the current situation in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, and Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will take part in the NATO summit. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press

Barnama
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
87 Japanese Nationals, Family Members Evacuated From Iran, Israel
TOKYO, June 20 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A total of 87 Japanese nationals and their family members have evacuated from Iran and Israel amid intensifying tensions in the Middle East, the Japanese government said Friday. According to Kyodo news agency, the evacuees arrived by bus in Azerbaijan and Jordan as local airports remained closed and none had health issues, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said. Of the 87 including six foreigners, 66 left Tehran and arrived in Baku early Friday, while 21 departed from Tel Aviv and reached Amman on Thursday afternoon, the Foreign Ministry said.