Defying media speculation and with tensions still high in the Middle East, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman on a five-day trip starting Saturday as originally scheduled, government officials announced Friday.
The announcement came despite Wednesday media reports, including a report in The Japan Times, that quoted government sources as saying Abe would cancel the trip in the wake of the U.S. assassination of top Iranian commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani and ensuing missile attacks by Iran on two bases in Iraq hosting U.S. troops.
Abe apparently has decided to stick to his original plan after U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a speech regarding Iran on Wednesday in Washington that has reduced fear of full-scale war with Iran, at least for now. In the speech, Trump revealed the U.S. will impose additional economic sanctions but will not strike back at Iran for the time being.