Iran is detaining two Japanese citizens, but both have been confirmed safe and are in contact with Japanese authorities, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said March 6.
“We strongly demand their early release and will provide every possible assistance from the standpoint of protecting Japanese nationals,” Motegi said at a session of the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee.
He did not identify the detainees.
Foreign media have reported that the Tehran bureau chief of Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) is among those being held in Iran.
The government had previously disclosed that one Japanese national was being detained in January and had not been released by the time of the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.
Officials have withheld details, citing privacy concerns.
Japanese officials say they are continuing to monitor the situation and coordinate with relevant authorities.
AloJapan.com