Japan hints at SDF minesweeping in Strait of Hormuz

Japan has indicated it may consider deploying its Self-Defense Forces for minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz should a ceasefire take hold between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi highlighted Japan’s advanced minesweeping capabilities while discussing the potential dispatch, according to Kyodo News.

Speaking after attending Japan-US summit talks in Washington last Thursday, Motegi acknowledged that if a truce is established and mines pose an obstacle to navigation, Tokyo would need to contemplate such a deployment. He emphasized that no specific commitments were made during the summit, nor were there any issues requiring immediate consideration upon his return.

The potential operation reflects Japan’s acute vulnerability to disruptions in Gulf shipping lanes. The country imports approximately 90 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, with the vast majority transiting through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has become a focal point of regional tensions since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory drone and missile operations against Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military assets.

In a related development, Motegi confirmed that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and returned to Japan on Sunday. The individual, held since June, arrived in good health. The other Japanese citizen still in custody is the Tehran bureau chief of public broadcaster NHK, who was detained by local authorities on Jan. 20.