March 23, 2026 | 09:23 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, claimed on Sunday that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to deploy part of the country's navy for operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Particularly since, particularly since so much energy is going to Europe out of the strait. We just had the Japanese Prime Minister commit to portions of her navy and the Japanese navy, 80 percent of what is coming out of the Gulf is going to Asia," Waltz claimed in an interview with CBS News as quoted by The Hill.
"So we are seeing our allies come around as they should, but at the same time, the president is not going to stand for this regime, as it has threatened and tried for five decades to hold the world's energy supplies hostage under its, its genocidal intent," he said.
Tokyo also hinted at the possibility of deploying Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached between Iran, the U.S., and Israel.
"Japan’s minesweeping technology is at the top level in the world. Let’s say (the parties have entered into a) ceasefire, and in the event that mines pose an obstacle, we may have to think about it," said Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, referring to the potential deployment of SDF.
However, Motegi, who attended the Japan-U.S. summit in Washington last Thursday, stated that "no specific promises" were made and there were no issues requiring further consideration in Tokyo.
The U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28, with Tehran responding through repeated drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets.
Japan imports around 90 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, mostly passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on Sunday on the X social media platform that the Strait of Hormuz is not "closed," but ships are "hesitant because insurance companies fear the optional war you start-not Iran."
Read: Trump Warns of Power Plant Attacks if Iran Fails to Reopen Hormuz in 48 Hours
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