Japan Outlines 3 Conditions Before Joining Strait of Hormuz Mission

(MENAFN) Japan has laid out three firm prerequisites for committing its forces to any military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, media reported Sunday, as regional tensions stemming from the US-Israel offensive against Iran continue to rattle global energy markets.

According to the report, which cited a source familiar with the matter, Tokyo would require a ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran, the establishment of functioning communication channels with the Iranian side, and a measurable reduction in the threat level within the strait before deploying its Self-Defense Forces.

Should those benchmarks be satisfied, potential Japanese operations could encompass mine-clearing activities and the protection of commercial shipping vessels, media added.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have held three phone conversations since hostilities broke out in late February — a diplomatic back-channel that underscores Tokyo's determination to maintain dialogue amid the crisis.

Regional instability surged after Washington and Tel Aviv launched a coordinated strike against Iran on Feb. 28, sending shockwaves through critical shipping lanes and energy infrastructure. The fallout drove up oil, gas, and fuel prices worldwide, stoking fresh fears over supply shortages, accelerating inflation, and a renewed cost-of-living squeeze for consumers globally.

A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan halted active hostilities on April 8, though efforts to forge a permanent settlement remain ongoing.

The stakes for Japan are considerable: the country depends on Gulf imports for roughly 90% of its total energy needs, and was among the first nations to tap its strategic petroleum reserves in response to the supply disruption.

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