March 18, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku at a meeting of the House of Councillors Budget Committee on March 17 asked why Japan cannot condemn the war the United States is waging on Iran.

In response, Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu said, “We are calling on Iran and Israel to de-escalate the situation.”

Yamazoe again asked whether Japan had called on the U.S. administration to calm the situation during the March 16 telephone conversation between the Japanese and U.S. foreign ministers. Motegi replied, “I will refrain from providing details.”

This highlighted the fact that while Japan is calling on Iran and Israel to de-escalate the situation, it has not made the same request to the United States.

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae explained that she had spoken about de-escalation at the online G7 summit. Yamazoe then asked if she had specifically called on the United States to do so. PM Takaichi replied, “I did not single out any one country,” and avoided mentioning the United States.

Emphasizing the significance of the UN Charter which was created to eliminate war following the two world wars, Yamazoe asked whether she condones U.S. President Trump’s remark that “I don’t need international law.” PM Takaichi stated that she is not aware of the details of the remark and refrained from commenting on it.