ISTANBUL
Japan’s foreign minister said Friday that two Japanese nationals have been detained in Iran and urged Tehran to immediately release them, according to local media reports.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the government had been able to communicate with the two individuals and confirmed they are currently safe, Kyodo News reported.
“The government strongly calls for their early release and will provide as much support as possible while staying in touch with them, their families and related parties,” Motegi said.
He did not provide further details about the detainees, but one of them is believed to be the Tehran bureau chief of Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, who was reportedly detained by local authorities on Jan. 20.