Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is set to become the country’s next prime minister. Following his victory, the 67-year-old pledged to make Japan “a safe country where everyone can live with a smile.” Ishiba thanked his supporters and emphasized his commitment to rebuilding public trust in the LDP, following the resignation of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He vowed to lead with courage and sincerity, promising a transparent and fair government with open discussions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi issued a stern warning to the UK, Germany, and France, accusing them of making a “new strategic mistake” regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. In a social media post, Arakchi said, “Iran will give a tough and determined response to the violation of its rights,” criticizing the European trio for backing a resolution against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors.
Arakchi condemned the move as baseless, recalling past disputes in 2005 which led to the expansion of Iran’s uranium enrichment. “Have these three really not learned any lessons in the last twenty years?” he said.
Meanwhile, the IAEA reported on May 31 that Iran’s 60% enriched uranium stockpile had grown from 274.8 kg in February to 408.6 kg by May 17. In response, the UK, Germany, and France are reportedly preparing to refer Iran’s file to the UN Security Council, which could activate the “snapback” mechanism and reimpose UN sanctions.
TR