City
Epaper

Abe to cancel Middle East visit over fresh tensions

By IANS | Updated: January 8, 2020 11:45 IST

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday cancelled his visit to the Middle East this weekend due to fresh tensions in the region.

Open in App

Abe was scheduled start his visit to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman on Saturday ahead of its information-gathering dispatch of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to the Hormuz Strait, reports Efe news.

Japanese media reports that the government has decided to postpone the visit in the wake of Iran's attack on two US military airbases in Iraq on Wednesday as a retaliation against Iranian Major General Qaesm Soleimani's death in the January 3 American drone attack.

When asked about this issue at a media briefing, Japanese Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga neither confirmed or denied the information on the postponement of Abe's trip to the Middle East.

Suga said they were currently analyzing the situation there and would take a decision accordingly.

He added that in recent hours Abe attended a national security meeting involving four ministers, but did not provide details.

However, Suga said that Abe had asked for all available information to be gathered and analyzed, and ordered for measures to protect all Japanese citizens in the region.

Suga underlined that Japan was "deeply worried by growing tensions in the Middle East and a further escalation should be avoided."

"We ask all parties involved to exhaust diplomatic efforts to ease the tensions," he said.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Yoshihide SugajapaniranMiddle East
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalVideo: Iranian Missiles Breach Israel’s Iron Dome

InternationalIran Releases List of 8 Key Gulf Bridges After US-Israel Strike Destroys Tallest Bridge in Karaj

International'Illegal Military Operations': China Accuses US and Israel of Strait of Hormuz Crisis

InternationalDonald Trump Address on Iran War: US President Says Military Objectives ‘Nearing Completion’

InternationalDonald Trump Claims US Military Destroyed Targets in Iran

International Realted Stories

InternationalIran rejects Trump's 48-hour ultimatum as "helpless" and "unbalanced"

InternationalTrump claims "massive strike" in Tehran has "terminated" Iranian military leaders

InternationalIranian tribesmen reportedly fire at US helicopters searching for missing crew member

InternationalIran warns of "radioactive contamination" risk after strike near Bushehr nuclear plant

International"Will be a big relief": Former diplomat Manju Seth hails Indian LPG tanker's transit through Strait of Hormuz