ISTANBUL

Japan on Friday conveyed “grave concern” to Israel and urged de-escalation following attacks on Iran.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi held a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

“I expressed my strong hope for an early de-escalation of the situation,” Motegi told a news conference after the call, according to Kyodo News.

During the conversation, Motegi also conveyed Tokyo’s “grave concern that the exchange of attacks continues and the regional situation is deteriorating,” according to a statement from Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

Both ministers agreed to maintain “close communication” between Japan and Israel regarding the situation.

Earlier Friday, Motegi said two Japanese nationals have been detained in Iran and urged Tehran to release them immediately.

In a separate statement, the office of Japan’s prime minister said the country will begin assisting with the evacuation of its citizens from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as early as Saturday.

Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran Saturday, killing more than 1,000 people, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, dozens of schoolgirls and senior military officials.

In response, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries hosting US military assets.