Iran has withdrawn from the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka along with three other nations, Japanese and Iranian officials confirmed on December 28, as participating countries face mounting financial pressures.

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced the decision following what she described as "comprehensive internal assessments regarding the conditions for participation and related limitations."

Iran's state-controlled Mehr news agency published the announcement, though the specific constraints leading to the withdrawal were not detailed.

Subsequently, Japan's Foreign Ministry removed Iran, El Salvador, Botswana, and South Africa from its official list of participating nations.

Iran had initially planned to utilise a simplified Type X pavilion structure to be built by Japanese organisers, which will now likely be repurposed as a rest area or additional exhibition space.

The collective withdrawal of the four nations, partially offset by Cape Verde's new commitment to participate, brings the total number of participating countries and regions to 158 for the exposition, scheduled to run from April 13 to October 13, 2025.

The departures mark a setback for expo organisers. However, Japanese officials say the event remains on track to be one of the largest international gatherings in the post-pandemic period.

A Japan-based international organiser who spoke with IntelliNews’ Gulf bureau said, “[The] Expo has been a walking disaster,” criticising the organising committee’s pace of developing the event and site.

He added that the Iranian pullout could be related to the country’s international standing: “The timing is suspicious after what’s going on in Syria. Could they be focusing on domestic needs now? No time for vanity spending abroad when shit is hitting the fan around them.”

The person added: "Iran was [probably] behind schedule and was about to be hit with severe penalties, and instead of having to dig deeper into their budget."

He noted that several other countries, including Mexico, Russia, Argentina, and Greece, have also pulled out in recent years.