TOKYO: Japan expressed concern on Tuesday over Iran's recent announcement that it will no longer abide by limits on its uranium enrichment.

"The announcement was regrettable, and Japan is strongly concerned," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.

Suga declined to comment on the US killing of the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, saying the Japanese government is not aware of details of the matter.

Speaking at a different press conference, industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama said he is "seriously concerned" about growing uncertainty over global crude oil supplies amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

Kajiyama said he will keep a close watch on the situation to see how Japan will be affected.

But he added there are no concerns about near-term energy supplies in Japan even if oil stops flowing from the Middle East, citing the country's crude oil reserves equivalent to over 200 days of consumption.

Meanwhile, Japanese Communist Party parliamentary affairs chief Keiji Kokuta urged the government to withdraw its plan to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to the Middle East, citing increasing regional tensions.

Kokuta made the request in a meeting with his counterpart at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Hiroshi Moriyama.

"Tensions are growing, and the situation could escalate to a war in the Middle East," Kokuta told reporters after the meeting.

JIJI Press