TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japan on Tuesday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of what he called a complete cease-fire between Israel and Iran, expressing “strong hope” that it will be firmly implemented.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Japan will continue to monitor how the situation unfolds in the Middle East with high interest and make “all diplomatic efforts possible” to ensure peace and stability there.
Trump said Monday on his social media that there will be a “total and complete” cease-fire between Israel and Iran.
“We will continue to monitor further developments with high interest,” Hayashi told a press conference, saying that de-escalating the situation quickly is “of utmost importance.”
“Peace and stability in the Middle East is critically important for Japan. We will make all necessary diplomatic efforts possible in coordination with the international community,” the top government spokesman said.
The comments came following mounting concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East after the United States attacked three key nuclear facilities in Iran on Sunday, getting directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. In response, Iran launched missiles on a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday.
Japan has said it is deeply concerned about Israel and Iran trading attacks.
As resource-scarce Japan gets most of its oil from the Middle East, it sees peace and stability in the region as vital. Japan and Iran have traditionally maintained amicable ties.
Following the U.S. strikes on Iran, Japan, a close security ally of the United States, has largely fine-tuned its response instead of voicing its outright support.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who initially refrained from saying whether Tokyo backs the U.S. military action, said Monday Japan understands that the U.S. action is meant to show its resolve to de-escalate the situation swiftly and prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons.
