Tokyo, Japan – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Monday that her government is seriously considering high-level talks with the Iranian leadership, stressing that taking such a step would depend primarily on what serves Japan’s “national interest.” She added that the decision would be made at a time deemed appropriate by Tokyo from a comprehensive perspective. “I will judge the appropriate timing for holding talks based on the national interest and the exigencies of the moment,” Takaichi said during a hearing before the House of Representatives Budget Committee. This comes amid escalating military tensions and rapidly deteriorating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Energy security challenges and the Strait of Hormuz
The Takaichi government has faced a complex diplomatic test since the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, late last month.
Tokyo is striving to maintain a delicate balance between its close strategic and security alliance with Washington and its historically friendly relations with Tehran. Stability in the region is also of existential importance to the Japanese economy, as the country relies on the Middle East for more than 90% of its crude oil imports.
Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has paralyzed global energy shipments. As a result, it has raised serious concerns about oil supplies and led to a sharp rise in global prices.
A cautious stance and support for Trump
While Japan strongly condemned the closure of vital waterways and Iranian attacks targeting oil facilities and infrastructure in neighboring countries, the Takaichi government remained cautious in offering a direct legal assessment of the US military operations against Iran.
Nevertheless, Tokyo reaffirmed its unwavering support for US President Donald Trump. At the Washington summit on March 19, Takaichi described him as “the only person capable of bringing peace and global prosperity.” Takaichi’s remarks today reflect a Japanese desire to keep diplomatic channels open with Tehran as a strategic option for securing energy supplies, despite the clear alignment with US policy. This places Japanese diplomacy in a delicate position, awaiting developments on the ground in the coming weeks.
