Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru told local media on Sunday that Japan was “very concerned” about Iran’s nuclear facilities but declined to comment further on whether Tokyo was supporting attacks by its ally the United States. 

Ishiba said, “The most important thing is to de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible,” and emphasized the need to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program.

The Japanese Prime Minister avoided taking a position on the actions of the United States and said, “We will have a comprehensive discussion within the (Japanese) government.” 

While no impact on Japan’s energy sector has yet been confirmed, Ishiba said he has instructed officials to monitor the situation. The prime minister also instructed ministries and their respective departments to take all necessary measures to ensure their safety, and to take all necessary measures to ensure safety in the Middle East.

Japan, which has very few natural resources, is heavily dependent on crude oil from the Middle East.