Japan Mulls Clearing Mines in Hormuz if War Stops

Japan’s foreign minister said the country might send its forces to sweep naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire ends the U. S. -Israeli conflict with Iran. The minister explained that such an operation would only happen after a complete stop to fighting and if mines were blocking shipping lanes. He added that the idea is purely hypothetical at this point. The Japanese military can only act overseas under strict rules. A 2015 law lets the Self‑Defense Forces leave Japan when a close ally faces attack and no other solution exists. Even with that permission, Tokyo has no immediate plans to arrange safe passage for Japanese ships through the strait. The minister emphasized how vital it is that all vessels can move freely in this narrow waterway, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil.

Iran has largely shut the strait during its fourth week of war, forcing many countries to tap emergency oil reserves. The price of crude has risen sharply because the channel is a key route for global supplies. Iran’s foreign minister told a Japanese news agency that he had spoken to the Japanese minister about allowing Japanese‑related ships to pass. U. S. President Donald Trump met with Japan’s prime minister during a Washington summit, urging her to push allies to deploy warships that could help open the strait. The Japanese leader explained to reporters what kind of support Japan can give, given its legal constraints. The situation shows how international politics and security laws shape decisions about shipping routes. Japan’s willingness to consider minesweeping reflects its concern for trade and the safety of vessels, while also respecting its pacifist constitution.

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