By Anadolu staff
ISTANBUL (AA) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday urged Iran to seek a "diplomatic solution" amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic, local media reported.
"We will work in coordination with the international community toward an early de-escalation of the situation and continue to make every necessary diplomatic effort," Takaichi said at a parliamentary committee meeting, without expressing her view on the US-Israel attack on Iran, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said that the government is preparing for a possible evacuation operation for Japanese nationals in the region.
She said there have been no reports of Japanese casualties in Iran so far.
About 200 Japanese citizens live in Iran, and 7,700 reside in the Gulf countries that have come under Iran's retaliatory attacks on the US-linked sites.
Tokyo is planning to evacuate its citizens from Israel as early as Monday, readying its defense forces to evacuate nationals.
Japan, which heavily relies on Iran for crude oil, has traditionally maintained friendly ties with Tehran.
Regional tensions escalated Saturday after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran retaliated with a series of drone and missile attacks that targeted Israel, US assets, and several Gulf countries.