Japan not currently mulling maritime ops despite Trump pressure over Hormuz / Photo: © AFP
-
US senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham dies aged 71
-
Evacuees allowed to return home after deadly wildfire in Spain stabilises
-
US-Iran strikes: latest developments
-
Senegal part ways with coach Thiaw after World Cup exit
-
South Korea issues first emergency heatwave warning under new rating system
-
McGregor 'destroyed' in 69 seconds on UFC return from five-year layoff
-
US senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham dies age 71
-
Hundreds return home as deadly Spain wildfire nears control
-
England, Argentina to renew bitter rivalry in World Cup semi-final
-
Argentina's Scaloni says England World Cup semi 'just a football game'
-
In Sicily, drones at work to predict volcanic eruptions
-
Argentina know how to suffer, says Alvarez after Swiss World Cup test
-
McGregor loses in 69 seconds on UFC return from five-year layoff
-
Iran strikes Gulf neighbours after new US attacks
-
Car crisis takes toll on Germany's young engineers
-
England, Argentina set up World Cup showdown after quarter-final wins
-
Argentina sink 10-man Swiss to set up blockbuster England World Cup semi-final
-
Political violence shadows Bangladesh's new government
-
West Afghanistan female dress-code crackdown hits businesses
-
'We put Norway on the map', says Haaland after World Cup exit
-
Bhutan battles 'existential' population crisis with birth drive
-
Tuchel says 'lucky' England must improve despite reaching World Cup semi-finals
-
Norway coach says ball hit camera cable for crucial England goal
-
'Never in doubt': England fans dare to dream after quarter-final scare
-
Growing list of countries move to ban social media for children
-
Till death do us bark: Pets serve as witnesses at Ecuador weddings
-
Schmidt aims to leave Wallabies 'in good order' for incoming Kiss
-
Typhoon makes landfall in China, downgraded to severe tropical storm
-
Rennie says All Blacks must improve with 'smart' Ireland awaiting
-
US launches new strikes on Iran after container ship hit in Hormuz
-
Eddie Jones says 'pretty obvious' Japan on right track
-
Farrell's Ireland look to future after Japan experiment pays off
-
Bellingham double as 'lucky' England beat Norway to reach World Cup semi-finals
-
Bellingham heroics edge England past Norway and into World Cup semis
-
NFL Seahawks sold to India-born billionaire Khosla's group
-
Noskova's glimpse of Wimbledon trophy inspired title glory
-
Argentina beat porous Wales in Nations Championship
-
Morant looks forward to fresh start in Portland
-
New heat wave blasts US, could break records
-
Stones, Madueke start England World Cup quarter-final against Norway
-
Scotland third best team in world, says Erasmus after Boks win
-
Italy icon Maldini gets key role with Italian FA
-
Former skipper Knight to retire from England women's duty after Lord's Test
-
England, Norway battle heat as Argentina face Swiss in World Cup last eight
-
England boss Borthwick coy over starting Pollock after Fiji hat-trick
-
Paris landmarks shutter early as France bakes in latest heatwave
-
Myanmar film wins top prize at Czech festival
-
Noskova cries tears of joy after emotional Wimbledon final
-
Ton-up Buttler takes new No 1 England to T20 series sweep of India
-
Kriel seals thrilling win for South Africa over brave Scotland
Japan not currently mulling maritime ops despite Trump pressure over Hormuz
Japan said Monday it was not currently thinking about ordering maritime security operations, after US President Donald Trump called for other countries to send warships to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
"In the current Iran situation, we are not at the moment considering issuing a maritime security operation," Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told parliament.
Trump called for reinforcements on Saturday from countries including Japan after earlier vowing that the US Navy would "very soon" begin escorting tankers through the vital shipping lane for oil in the Middle East.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that any maritime security operation would be "extremely difficult legally".
Sending its Self-Defense Forces abroad is politically sensitive in officially pacifist Japan, as many voters support the US-imposed, war-renouncing 1947 constitution.
Takayuki Kobayashi, the policy chief of Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday the threshold was "extremely high" for Tokyo to send in its warships.
The world's number-four economy is the fifth-biggest importer of oil, with 95 percent of it coming from the Middle East and 70 percent passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has effectively closed the strait in retaliation for the US-Israeli war against Tehran.
B.Torres--AT