Press Conferences

TASS Russian News Agency, Agafonov: I would like to ask about Japan-Russia relations. There have been reports that the Government of Japan plans to send an economic delegation to Russia in May. While Chief Cabinet Secretary KIHARA stated that this is not the case, I would like to ask, in light of such reports, how the Government views Japan-Russia relations going forward, including economic cooperation in the energy and other sectors.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: The report that Japan plans to send an economic delegation to Russia is not true.

Regarding cooperation in the economic field, Japan-Russia relations remain in a difficult situation due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Japan strongly expects Russia to take positive actions toward an early comprehensive ceasefire and the realization of a just and lasting peace.

In any case, we will continue to take appropriate responses from the perspective of what is in Japan’s national interests for the overall diplomacy of our country.

Kyodo News, ONDA: I would like to ask about the situation in Iran in the Middle East. In his address on April 2, U.S. President Trump vowed to end the operation against Iran shortly, while Iran pledged to keep fighting, leaving the future situation uncertain. Please share your reaction to the address and once again outline the efforts Japan will be making toward an early de-escalation of the situation. In addition, a meeting on the Strait of Hormuz hosted by the UK was held yesterday. Please tell us what points Japan emphasized at the meeting and what discussions took place.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: In an address delivered yesterday from 10 a.m., Japan time, for approximately 20 minutes, President Trump explained the objectives of the U.S. operation, the current situation, and the future outlook.

Japan considers it important to resolve issues through dialogue and expects that the talks with Iran mentioned by President Trump in his address will move in a positive direction.

This week, I held telephone calls and exchanged views with the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, two of the four mediating countries. The ministers stated that they would continue their mediation efforts, and we reaffirmed that we would work together.

Amid the ongoing tense situation, as I have stated repeatedly, what is important above all is the early de-escalation of the situation. To this end, Japan has maintained and will continue to maintain communication with relevant countries.

At last evening’s online meeting of Foreign Ministers on the Strait of Hormuz, attended by approximately 40 countries, I reiterated the importance of an early de-escalation of the situation. I also introduced that, following Japan’s proposal to ensure the safety of all vessels and crew currently retained in the Persian Gulf, including those of Japan, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has decided to encourage the formulation of a framework for safe maritime corridors, and I called for cooperation from each country.

Participants from each country and international organization, including IMO, explained their respective efforts, and we concurred that we would continue to work closely together.

Asahi Shimbun, MIYAWAKI: Although this overlaps somewhat with your earlier remarks, you have held successive telephone calls, with Saudi Arabia yesterday and with Kuwait and Türkiye on Wednesday. Moreover, at the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting Prime Minister TAKAICHI stated her intention to reach out to many of the partners in the international community, and I understand that she has also held telephone calls. Could you elaborate once again, in more detail, on the Government of Japan’s objectives and intentions for continuing these diplomatic efforts?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: More than one month has passed since the attacks launched on February 28, yet the situation remains tense. As I have emphasized repeatedly, nothing is of greater importance than working toward an early de-escalation of the situation. To this end, Japan has maintained close communication with relevant countries.

Since immediately after the situation arose, I have held telephone calls with the G7 countries and nearly all of the Gulf States, with the exception of Bahrain. With respect to the parties involved, I visited the U.S. and held telephone calls with the Foreign Minister of Israel and with Foreign Minister Araghchi of Iran twice. This week, I also held telephone calls with countries including Kuwait and Türkiye.

Yesterday, I held a telephone call with Foreign Minister Faisal of Saudi Arabia, one of the mediators between the U.S. and Iran, as he has attended the meeting in Islamabad. We affirmed our intention to work closely together toward the early de-escalation of the situation, and shared the view that ensuring the safety of navigation is of extreme importance, including from the perspective of stable energy supply, in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which Saudi Arabia currently supplies oil on a route transiting the Red Sea via the East-West pipeline. In addition, as I mentioned earlier, I attended an online meeting of Foreign Ministers on the Strait of Hormuz hosted by the UK, where the participating countries affirmed their intention to work together.

Going forward, Japan intends to continue pursuing all diplomatic efforts while working closely with the international community, including relevant countries and international organizations. Japan has an alliance with the U.S. and has also maintained longstanding relationships with both Israel and Iran. Furthermore, Japan has deep ties with the Gulf States and other countries, including in the energy sector. By leveraging Japan’s standing and the channels available for candid exchange of views, we are continuing our diplomatic efforts, with the determination to do everything we can toward the early de-escalation of the situation.