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The Japanese government and ruling coalition have begun examining the possibility of deploying Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz following a request from United States President Donald Trump.
Officials said the proposal was being considered as part of efforts to help ensure the safety of vital oil shipping routes in the region.
Takayuki Kobayashi, head of the Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council, submitted recommendations to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday urging the government to study the option once hostilities between the United States and Iran subside.
Kobayashi said sending minesweepers could be one of the measures available to protect Japan’s national interests while remaining within the limits of domestic law.
Takaichi said her administration shared the same position as the ruling party, noting the importance of safeguarding the daily lives of the public.
She earlier said that Japan’s response to requests from the United States would depend on what actions were allowed under existing legal frameworks.
Under the Self-Defense Forces law, Japan may dispatch minesweepers to remove naval mines after conflicts have ended.
Japan previously sent minesweepers to the Persian Gulf in 1991 following the Gulf War, citing the need to secure maritime routes.