Japan’s Takaichi Hails U.S.-Iran Deal

Evian, France, June 17 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday welcomed a deal between the United States and Iran to end their conflict, at a press conference held at the end of her visit to Europe, which began on Saturday. “I appreciate the efforts toward peace,” Takaichi said, referring to the deal. Regarding the possibility of dispatching Japan’s Self-Defense Forces to the Strait of Hormuz, the prime minister said, “Nothing has been decided.” Still, she emphasized that she would assess the U.S.-Iran agreement and subsequent developments. On her G7 summit debut since taking office last October, Takaichi said at the press conference in France that “the G7 was able to send a clear and unified message on energy security to the world.” Before attending the three-day G7 summit in Evian, eastern France, which ended on Wednesday, Takaichi visited Britain and Italy. Also commenting on domestic affairs at the press conference, Takaichi did not rule out the possibility of the Democratic Party for the People joining the ruling coalition, saying: “Without political stability, we cannot promote a strong economy, diplomacy or security. We are always considering the necessary measures to achieve this.” The ruling coalition of Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party lacks a majority in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the country’s parliament. The prime minister also touched on a proposal presented Wednesday by the chairman of the multiparty National Council on Social Security to cut the consumption tax on food to 1 pct for two years starting next April and make it “virtually zero” by combining the reduction with benefit payments. On the proposal, Takaichi called for “promptness and sufficiency,” while saying: “I expect adjustments will be made based on the chairman’s plan. I will closely watch how the situation unfolds.” Furthermore, the prime minister emphasized her intention to “earnestly carry out” the agreed items of the coalition pact between the LDP and the JIP, including reducing the number of seats in the House of Representatives, the lower parliamentary chamber. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]