Asked by a Japanese reporter why the U.S. had attacked Iran without consulting with allies, the U.S. leader appeared to respond with what he thought would be a light-hearted joke.

The arrest of a Japanese journalist in Iran has puzzled observers and prompted speculation that it is linked to the US threat to attack the country over its nuclear programme. On Tuesday, Radio Free Europe reported the arrest of Shinnosuke Kawashima, the Tehran bureau chief for Japan’s national broadcaster NHK. The US government-funded news outlet reported that Kawashima was first detained on January 20 and later taken to the notorious Evin Prison, which has been used to hold political prison...

Oval Office crowd left briefly silent after Trump makes light of 83-year-old attack

An NGO has issued a call for Iran to release a Japanese reporter who has been detained.