TOKYO, April 13 — Japan hopes a “final agreement” will be concluded swiftly between the United States and Iran to de-escalate the West Asia situation, the top government spokesman said Monday, after Washington-Tehran weekend peace talks failed to reach a deal, Kyodo News reported.
“What is most important is that de-escalation, including securing the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, is actually achieved,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference, adding that Tokyo is closely watching developments and will continue to work with the international community.
Kihara also said no decision has been made about whether Japan plans to send its Self-Defence Forces for minesweeping operations in the strait, a chokepoint for global energy transportation where Iran may have laid mines to support its de facto blockade.
Following their two-week ceasefire agreement last week, the United States and Iran held two days of negotiations through Sunday in Islamabad, the capital of mediator Pakistan, but failed to reach a peace deal.
Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports. Most transit the strait, which Iran has effectively closed since the United States and Israel began attacking the country in late February.
Japan, a close US security ally, has traditionally maintained friendly relations with Iran.
