Fact Check: Japan's Foreign Minister Condemns Israel's Attack on Iran
What We Know
On June 13, 2025, Japan's Foreign Minister, Takeshi Iwaya, publicly condemned Israel's military actions against Iran, specifically targeting nuclear and military sites. Iwaya stated that the use of military force was "completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable," especially given the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving tensions between the U.S. and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program (source-1). He expressed Japan's grave concern over the escalation of violence and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint (source-2).
The attacks by Israel were described as targeting "dozens of military targets," including nuclear facilities, which Israel justified as necessary to remove threats posed by Iran (source-3). In response to the situation, Iwaya emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Middle East for Japan and stated that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in the region (source-5).
Analysis
The statements made by Foreign Minister Iwaya are corroborated by multiple reliable sources, including official government press releases and reputable news outlets. The consistency of the reports across these sources enhances their credibility. For instance, both Kyodo News and Arab News reported Iwaya's remarks, noting that he characterized the military action as escalating the situation in the Middle East and expressed Japan's commitment to diplomatic efforts to mitigate further conflict (source-2, source-5).
The reliability of these sources is high, as Kyodo News is a well-established news agency in Japan, and Arab News is a prominent English-language publication in the Middle East. Both have a history of accurate reporting on international affairs. The official statement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry further solidifies the claim, as it directly reflects the government's position on the matter (source-1).
Conclusion
The claim that Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya condemned Israel's attack on nuclear and military sites in Iran on June 13, 2025, and stated that it escalated the situation is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that Iwaya made these statements in the context of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program.
Sources
- Situation surrounding Israel's attack against Iran (Statement by Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi)
- Japan condemns Israel attack on Iran, vows G7 unity to ease tensions
- Japan condemns Israel's attack on Iran for 'escalating situation'
- Japan 'strongly condemns' Israel's attack on Iran
- How the world is reacting to Israel attacks on Iran nuclear, military sites
