Japanese National Detained in Iran in January Released on Bail

Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara (Reuters)
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara (Reuters)
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Japanese National Detained in Iran in January Released on Bail

Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara (Reuters)
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara (Reuters)

A Japanese national detained in Iran has been released on bail, Japan's top government spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The individual was detained on January 20 and released on bail on Monday, and appears to have ‌no health issues, ‌Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru ‌Kihara ⁠told a press ⁠briefing without providing further details such as identity or charges, according to Reuters.

In February, Radio Free Europe reported that public broadcaster NHK's Tehran bureau chief ⁠Shinnosuke Kawashima had been arrested ‌in ‌Iran and transferred to a local ‌prison.

At the time, NHK ‌said "there is nothing we can answer at this stage" and that staff safety was a top ‌priority.

Japan's government later confirmed a Japanese national had been ⁠detained ⁠in Iran and that it had been in contact with the person's family and Iranian authorities.

Iran has been under fire since the US and Israel began hostilities against the Middle Eastern country on February 28.