Tokyo: Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Sunday indicated that Japan stands ready to ht deploy its Self-Defence Forces for minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz – a critical chokepoint for global oil – should a ceasefire emerge in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Reuters reported.
In a Fuji TV interview, Motegi outlined the conditional scenario: “If there were to be a complete ceasefire, hypothetically speaking, then things like minesweeping could come up. This is purely hypothetical, but if a ceasefire were established and naval mines were creating an obstacle, then I think that would be something to consider.”
Such operations would hinge on Japan’s pacifist Constitution, which curbs military involvement abroad. However, 2015 security legislation permits Self-Defense Forces use overseas when an assault on a key ally endangers Japan’s existence and alternatives are exhausted.
Motegi clarified no urgent steps are underway to secure strait passage for Japanese ships currently blocked there. He stressed the urgency of restoring safe navigation for all vessels through the waterway, which handles one-fifth of worldwide oil flows.
The comments come amid direct outreach from Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi informed Kyodo News on Friday that he had discussed with Motegi the possibility of allowing Japanese-linked vessels to traverse the strait.
Tehran has mostly sealed the strait during the war, now entering its fourth week, cutting off about 90% of Japan’s oil supply lines. This has fueled a surge in global oil prices, leading Japan and others to tap strategic reserves.
The backdrop includes US President Donald Trump’s recent pressure on allies. At a summit in Washington on Thursday, Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and called on her to “step up,” though efforts to enlist warships for strait clearance have faltered.
Following the talks, Takaichi told reporters that she had outlined to Trump the forms of assistance Japan can and cannot extend in the strait, given its domestic legal framework.
