January 11, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
TOKYO — Japan’s Foreign Minister, Motegi Toshimitsu, on Sunday publicly called on Iranian authorities to avoid using force against the wave of ongoing protests sweeping the country, emphasising Tokyo’s deep concern over the escalating violence and civilian casualties reported amid demonstrations.
Addressing journalists in the Japanese capital, Motegi said the government has been closely monitoring developments in Iran, where economic grievances have fuelled widespread demonstrations and where many people have reportedly been killed or injured in confrontations between security forces and protesters. He urged Tehran to uphold the rights of citizens to assemble and express dissent peacefully.
“The government of Japan strongly calls for the immediate cessation of violence and strongly hopes for an early settlement of the situation,” Motegi said, adding that Japan is taking necessary measures to protect its nationals in Iran amid the unrest.
The call from Japan reflects broader international anxiety over Iran’s handling of the protests, which have drawn criticism from multiple countries and rights organisations for excessive use of force against civilians. Observers say diplomatic pressure is mounting on Tehran to address the underlying socio-economic issues driving the unrest and to engage in political dialogue rather than suppression.