Japan's Foreign Minister avoids sanctioning Israel, criticizes Iran's nuclear 'ambitions'

Arab News

17-06-2025

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi avoided condemning or approving sanctioning Israel in a press conference on Tuesday, shifting the emphasis onto Iran's alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
'We do not permit Iran's nuclear development, and we believe that solving this through discussion is crucial,' he stated, emphasizing the potential for peaceful resolutions. 'Moving forward, we will continue to exert all necessary diplomatic efforts to prevent further deterioration of the situation (between Iran and Israel.)'
When asked by Arab News Japan about the possibility of Israel using nuclear weapons in its conflict with Iran, as well as potentially targeting other countries like Pakistan and Egypt, as suggested by some reports, Iwaya opted not to answer directly. Instead, he stated, 'Our country believes that the current tense situation in the Middle East is detrimental to the international community as a whole. We strongly urge all parties involved, including Israel, to exercise maximum restraint and to de-escalate the situation,' highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The Japanese Foreign Minister also said he strongly urged de-escalation when he spoke with Iran's Foreign Minister on Monday, adding that Japan has 'also been making efforts with Israel,' without specifying what those efforts entail or outlining how Japan might influence the situation. Rather, he emphasized Japan's closeness to Israel.
'Israel is, of course, a friendly nation to our country, and we have had long-standing diplomatic relations with Iran, so we believe it is essential for Japan to work toward resolving issues through dialogue and consultation,' he stated.
'The peace and stability of the Middle East are extremely important to our country. The situation is becoming increasingly tense, particularly in Iran. We plan to raise the danger level further and issue evacuation adviseries for the Japanese for the entire country of Iran soon.'
Minister Iwaya was confronted about why Japan agreed with its G-7 partners to support so-called Israel's self-defense and condemn Iran after Tokyo initially condemned Israel immediately when it launched a preemptive attack on Iran.
The Japanese Foreign Minister justified the change in the position, saying: 'Initially, there were attacks from Israel that we condemned, but Iran retaliated, and this back-and-forth continues to this day. We believe that both Israel and Iran should ensure that they are engaged in dialogue and consultation to resolve issues.'
This situation is a source of significant concern for us, Iwaya continued. Regarding the G7 leaders' statement, it is a consensus that reflects the discussions among the leaders considering the current situation. It reiterates the G7's commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.