Japan eyes talks with Iran as energy crunch deepens
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday she would consider high-level talks with Iran at an “appropriate” time, as fuel shortages bite following the February 28 US-Israeli military attacks on Iranian territory, Kyodo reported.
Takaichi told the Lower House Budget Committee she would assess timing “from a comprehensive standpoint” based on national interest, signaling a pragmatic shift as Japan draws down emergency reserves to cushion supply shocks, IRNA reported.
Tokyo has scrambled to balance its US security alliance with long-standing ties to Tehran since hostilities erupted late February. The crisis has tightened global crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint handling the bulk of Japan’s Middle East-bound imports, and pushed prices sharply higher.
Japan relies on the region for more than 90% of its crude intake. Government data indicate authorities have tapped roughly 85bn liters of strategic fuel stocks since last week to stabilize domestic markets and avert industrial disruptions.
Earlier, during a March 19 visit to Washington, Takaichi voiced support for President Donald Trump, calling him the “only” leader able to deliver global stability, while noting Tokyo had made no legal assessment of the US operation.
The US-Israeli strikes began on February 28 amid ongoing indirect diplomacy. Iran responded with calibrated missile and drone operations against military targets linked to the aggressors, framing the action as self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and warning of a stronger response to any escalation.