Japan to evacuate 200 citizens from war-struck Iran as US battle deepens

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions during a budget committee session of the House of Representatives in Parliament in Tokyo on February 27, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

The Japanese government has announced on Saturday, February 28, 2026, that it will move out all of its citizens in Iran as coordinated air strikes from the United States of America and Israel continue to create chaos in the Middle East country.

According to official figures released by the Japanese government, there are about 200 Japanese citizens living in Iran with no official injuries or casualties confirmed.

The Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry has issued an urgent call for their departure.

Officials are primarily planning to move people out by land using buses, as commercial flights are facing widespread cancellations and delays.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and other top officials met today to coordinate the logistics, drawing on previous experience from similar evacuations in June of last year.

Additionally, the ministry has warned Japanese citizens in 54 other countries and regions to avoid U.S. military bases due to the high risk of retaliatory attacks from Iran.

This operation marks a significant effort to ensure the safety of the diaspora as regional tensions escalate rapidly.