Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sunday that the country could consider deploying its Self-Defense Forces for minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Motegi made the remarks during a Fuji TV program, emphasizing the hypothetical nature of the proposal. "If there were to be a complete ceasefire, hypothetically speaking, then things like minesweeping could come up," he said. He added, "This is purely hypothetical, but if a ceasefire were established and naval mines were creating an obstacle, then I think that would be something to consider."

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, carries about one-fifth of the world's oil shipments. Japan sources around 90 percent of its crude oil imports through the strait, which Iran has largely closed since the war began on February 28, 2026, with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. Iran has deployed naval mines in the area, disrupting shipping and contributing to a spike in global oil prices that prompted Japan and others to tap strategic reserves.

The conflict, now in its fourth week, has seen Iran respond to the initial strikes by threatening and attacking vessels attempting to transit the strait. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged allies, including Japan, to contribute warships to reopen the waterway, but efforts have so far fallen short.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met Trump in Washington on Thursday, where she outlined the limits of Japan's support under domestic laws. Motegi, who attended the summit, noted that Trump nodded in understanding, and no specific commitments were made. "A dispatch of SDF troops is possible if a ceasefire is reached," Motegi reiterated, while stressing legal constraints.

Japan's postwar pacifist constitution restricts military actions abroad, though the 2015 security legislation permits Self-Defense Forces deployment overseas if Japan's survival is threatened, such as through attacks on close partners with no other recourse available. Motegi highlighted Japan's world-leading minesweeping technology as a potential asset for post-conflict stabilization.

Tokyo has no immediate plans to arrange passage for stranded Japanese vessels through the strait, Motegi said, prioritizing conditions for safe navigation by all ships. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi discussed potential transit for Japanese ships with Motegi on Friday, according to reports.

In related developments, one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran was released last Wednesday and returned home Sunday with no health issues. The government continues efforts to free the second, NHK's Tehran bureau chief, detained since January 20.

Motegi's comments underscore Japan's interest in securing energy supplies amid the disruptions, while navigating constitutional limits and alliance pressures.