TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko has sought Iran’s support over the seizure of a cargo ship by the Houthis, a pro-Tehran armed group in Yemen, last month.

Meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Geneva on Wednesday, Kamikawa denounced the ship seizure and asked Tehran to urge the Houthi militants to release the vessel, operated by a Japanese company, and free its crew members early, and not to conduct such an act again, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

As to the Gaza Strip, where the fighting between Israel and Hamas continues, the two ministers confirmed that Japan and Iran will keep in close contact to help calm the situations there, including through improving the humanitarian condition.

Earlier on Wednesday in Geneva, Kamikawa also held separate meetings with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib.

JIJI Press