“日本人にっぽんじんと家族かぞく約やく90人にん イスラエルとイランから隣国りんごく退避たいひ” 外相がいしょう

Foreign Minister Iwaya revealed that, in response to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, the government has assisted approximately 90 Japanese nationals and their families in evacuating from Israel and Iran, and that they had taken refuge in neighboring countries by the morning of the 20th, Japan time.

The Japanese government is assisting Japanese nationals in Israel and Iran who wish to evacuate by land, and in the afternoon of the 19th Japan time, buses carrying those evacuating departed from both countries.

Regarding this, Foreign Minister Iwaya told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly after 8:30 a.m. on the 20th, The 66 people who left Iran safely arrived in Baku, the capital of neighboring Azerbaijan, at around 8:15 a.m. Japan time.

He also stated, The 21 people who left Israel also safely arrived in Amman, the capital of neighboring Jordan, at around 9:30 p.m. Japan time yesterday, revealing that about 90 Japanese nationals and their families in both countries have evacuated to neighboring countries.

Embassy staff and medical officers are assisting the evacuees on site, and so far, there have been no health problems.

Minister Iwaya stated that a second evacuation by bus from Iran is planned as early as the 21st, and added, We will continue to closely monitor the situation and make every effort to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, including providing further evacuation support.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi: We will continue all diplomatic efforts. At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said, We are deeply concerned that the exchange of attacks is continuing, and we strongly urge all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint.

Irans development of nuclear weapons must never be permitted, and our country places great importance on resolving the nuclear issue through dialogue, he said.

On top of that, Negotiations between the United States and Iran are extremely important, and we are closely watching moves toward dialogue.

We are also urging Iran at every level not to miss the opportunity to hold talks with the United States, he said.

He also stated, The government will make every effort to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals residing abroad, while closely cooperating with the United States and other relevant countries, and will continue to make every necessary diplomatic effort to calm the situation.