Iranian authorities release Japanese national on bail

A Japanese national who had been detained in Iran since January was released on bail, Japan’s top government spokesperson confirmed.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters in Tokyo that the Japanese government is pressing Iranian authorities for the individual’s full release. He added that Japanese Ambassador to Iran Tamaki Tsukada met with the released person and confirmed he was in good health, without providing further details, Associated Press reports.

The detainee is believed to be a journalist at Japan’s NHK public television. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has identified him as the NHK reporter arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on January 20 and transferred to Evin Prison on February 23. CPJ cited unidentified sources expressing concerns over potential persecution.

Another Japanese citizen, who had been detained in Iran last June, was released and returned to Japan in March.

The announcement followed phone talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in which Motegi raised concerns over Iran’s war with the United States and Israel. According to a statement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Motegi reiterated his demand for the release of the remaining detainee, and Araghchi said he took the request seriously.

The Japanese government has maintained close contact with both the detainee’s family and Iranian authorities throughout the detention, while emphasizing the safety of its nationals abroad as a top priority.

By Vafa Guliyeva