Japan’s Upper House Budget Committee Begins Deliberations; PM Pressed to Offer Legal Assessment of Iran Attacks

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:39 JST, March 16, 2026

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was pressed to offer a legal assessment of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran at a general question and answer session held by the House of Councillors Budget Committee on Monday morning.

The session marked the start of substantive deliberations on the fiscal 2026 budget proposal.

Regarding the attacks, Takaichi said, “I have no intention of discussing the legal assessment under international law” at the Japan-U.S. summit on Thursday.

“Countries have different positions, and various discussions are taking place in the international community, including among experts,” she said.

As a reason for not offering a legal assessment, she said, “Japan is not in a position to fully grasp the detailed facts [of the attacks].”

“The focus of [international] discussions has shifted to the early containment of the situation and ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.

Regarding Japanese-affiliated vessels that are stranded in the Persian Gulf, Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Yasushi Kaneko said, “We have not received any reports of problems regarding their supply of water and food or the health of crew members.”

He added that the government will continue to thoroughly gather information.