Japanese Citizen Detained in Iran Last Year Released, Confirms Japan’s Foreign Minister

TOKYO – Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced on Sunday that one of the two Japanese citizens detained in Iran has been freed and is set to return home.

Motegi, during an appearance on a Fuji Television talk show, revealed that the individual had been held since last year and was released on Wednesday.

He noted that another Japanese citizen, who was detained earlier this year, remains in Iranian custody.

Motegi explained that the recent release was a result of his persistent appeals to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He emphasized his ongoing efforts to secure the swift release of the other detainee, maintaining communication with the detainee’s family and other relevant parties.

The Committee to Protect Journalists identified the person detained in January as a journalist working for Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK. The CPJ reported that the NHK journalist was arrested on January 20 by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was moved to Evin Prison on February 23, according to anonymous sources concerned about potential persecution.

Motegi did not identify either of the people detained and said the released Japanese national was detained in 2025.

The Foreign Ministry said earlier this month the detainees were safe and in good health, but only acknowledged that one was detained last year and the other one in January.

The ministry gave no further details such as whether the two cases were related.