Japan Evacuates Two Nationals From Iran as Regional Tensions Escalate
By Megumi Fujikawa
Japan's government evacuated two of its citizens from Iran, expressing heightened concern about the widening conflict in the Middle East.
The two individuals arrived in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, early Wednesday Tokyo time, Japan's foreign ministry said.
The evacuations come as Tokyo again voiced alarm over military strikes involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which have affected various countries in the Middle East.
"Japan is deeply concerned about the deteriorating regional situation surrounding Iran," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a news conference on Wednesday.
The government is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, and pursuing diplomatic de-escalation efforts with the international community, he said.
"Peace and stability in the Middle East are of paramount importance to Japan, including our energy security," Kihara said.
A prolonged conflict in the Middle East poses a significant risk to Japan's economy, which relies heavily on the region for its energy needs. If oil prices stay higher for longer due to production or shipping disruptions, that could tilt the economy toward recession and drive up cost-push inflation, analysts say.
The impact could come via foreign-exchange markets as well. Flight-to-safety demand has pushed up the dollar, leading to a further weakening of the yen. Yen depreciation pushes up Japan's import bill, adding to inflationary pressures.
Write to Megumi Fujikawa at megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 03, 2026 23:38 ET (04:38 GMT)
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