File photograph of Japan’s Overseas Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
Japan might contemplate deploying its navy for minesweeping within the Strait of Hormuz, a very important artery for international oil provides, if a ceasefire is reached within the U.S.-Israeli battle on Iran, Overseas Minister Toshimitsu Motegi mentioned on Sunday (March 22, 2026).
“If there have been to be a whole ceasefire, hypothetically talking, then issues like minesweeping might come up,” Mr. Motegi mentioned throughout a Fuji TV programme. “That is purely hypothetical, but when a ceasefire had been established and naval mines had been creating an impediment, then I feel that would be one thing to contemplate.”
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Japan’s navy actions are restricted underneath its postwar pacifist structure, however 2015 safety laws permits Japan to make use of its Self-Protection Forces abroad if an assault, together with on a shut safety associate, threatens Japan’s survival and no different means can be found to deal with it.
Tokyo has no speedy plans to hunt preparations to permit passage via the Strait of Hormuz for stranded Japanese vessels, Mr. Motegi mentioned, including it was “extraordinarily vital” to create circumstances that enable all ships to navigate via the slender waterway, the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi advised Japan’s Kyodo information company on Friday (March 20) that he had spoken to Mr. Motegi about probably letting Japanese-related vessels cross via the strait.
Japan will get round 90% of its oil shipments through the strait, which Tehran has largely closed throughout the battle, now in its fourth week. A spike in international oil costs has prompted Japan and different nations to launch oil from their reserves.
U.S. President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday (March 19), urging her to “step up” as he presses allies — to this point unsuccessfully — to ship warships to assist open the strait.
Ms. Takaichi advised reporters after the Washington summit that she had briefed Mr. Trump on what assist Japan might and couldn’t present within the strait underneath its legal guidelines.
Printed – March 22, 2026 09:37 am IST