Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi on Friday dodged questions on Israel’s nuclear arsenal and threats to the Middle East region, choosing instead to criticize Iran’s nuclear program.

“Regarding the Israeli-Iran situation, as far as our country is concerned, we believe that diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions are the most important,” Iwaya said at a press conference. “So, at the G7 summit, the agreement was that Iran’s development of nuclear weapons will not be tolerated.”

Iwaya stuck to the mantra that the Iran’s nuclear issue should be resolved through negotiations and said this is the message the G7 wants to convey. Iwaya wouldn’t be drawn on the issue of Israel’s nuclear arsenal and the threats from some Israelis to nuke Iran and Gaza, other than to say abstractly that matters should be resolved “in accordance with international law.”

When asked why Iran is singled out for criticism while Israel’s nuclear threats and program are never mentioned, Iwaya replied: “I mentioned that the G7 emphasized the commitment to peace and stability in the entire Middle East region and stated that, in that context, Israel does have the right to defend itself. I have also indicated that these issues must be resolved through dialogue, not military force.”