The Iran Dilemma: A View from Tokyo and Jerusalem

About Japan occupies a unique position: a close ally of the United States, a strong partner of Israel, and a longtime diplomatic interlocutor with Tehran. In this episode of The Iran Breakdown, Japan’s Ambassador to Israel, Yusuke Arai, offers a rare perspective on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the threats it poses to Israel, lessons from Japan’s experience with North Korea, and the limits of diplomacy and the importance of military deterrence. Ambassador Arai is a veteran diplomat with over 30 years of experience in foreign policy, national security, and intelligence. A former Director-General of Intelligence and Analysis at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he brings a distinctive security perspective shaped by his experience examining Iran and the Middle East from both Tokyo and Israel. Watch