Japan welcomes Israel-Iran cease-fire agreement
Japan supports the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Iran that U.S. President Donald Trump announced on June 24.
'We welcome the announcement of the cease-fire and strongly hope that this will be put into effect,' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi on June 24 said at a news conference. 'Peace and stability in the Middle East region is of vital importance to our country.'
He added that Japan 'continues to strongly hope that the path of dialogue will be resumed,' starting with the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.
Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its imported crude oil, and if Iran were to take the countermeasure of blockading the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, it could seriously impact the Japanese economy.
Japan has been avoiding condemning the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities as it has previously done to similar attacks launched by Israel.
A senior Foreign Ministry official said, 'We are relieved, although we cannot rest assured yet. The attacks on the city of Tehran have intensified, and we were concerned about the need to accelerate the evacuation of Japanese citizens.'
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