Japan condemned US President Donald Trump for equating recent U.S. military actions in Iran with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that marked the end of World War II. "That hit ended the war," Trump stated to reporters, while asserting that the Iran strikes had a similar impact. The atomic bombings resulted in the deaths of approximately 140,000 people and left lasting psychological scars on survivors.
Nagaski Mayor Shiro Suzuki expressed his disapproval, remarking that if Trump's comments were to justify the atomic bombings, it would be "extremely regrettable" for the community that suffered the attacks. Mimaki Toshiyuki, a survivor and co-chair of a prominent advocacy group, labeled the comments "unacceptable," voicing his disappointment and anger.
In response to Trump's statements, a protest occurred in Hiroshima with calls for him to retract his remarks. Local lawmakers responded with a resolution condemning any justification for nuclear weapon use and emphasizing the need for peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
When asked if Japan would formally protest, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa highlighted that the government has consistently conveyed its stance on nuclear issues to the U.S. Trump’s comments surfaced amid his refutation of an intelligence report suggesting that U.S. strikes only impeded Iran's nuclear ambitions temporarily, claiming instead they set the program back "decades," a view supported by CIA director John Ratcliffe.
As the only nation to have experienced a nuclear attack, Japan maintains a strong opposition to nuclear weapons, symbolized by peace monuments and public commitments made by leaders visiting Hiroshima.
Nagaski Mayor Shiro Suzuki expressed his disapproval, remarking that if Trump's comments were to justify the atomic bombings, it would be "extremely regrettable" for the community that suffered the attacks. Mimaki Toshiyuki, a survivor and co-chair of a prominent advocacy group, labeled the comments "unacceptable," voicing his disappointment and anger.
In response to Trump's statements, a protest occurred in Hiroshima with calls for him to retract his remarks. Local lawmakers responded with a resolution condemning any justification for nuclear weapon use and emphasizing the need for peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
When asked if Japan would formally protest, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa highlighted that the government has consistently conveyed its stance on nuclear issues to the U.S. Trump’s comments surfaced amid his refutation of an intelligence report suggesting that U.S. strikes only impeded Iran's nuclear ambitions temporarily, claiming instead they set the program back "decades," a view supported by CIA director John Ratcliffe.
As the only nation to have experienced a nuclear attack, Japan maintains a strong opposition to nuclear weapons, symbolized by peace monuments and public commitments made by leaders visiting Hiroshima.
