ISTANBUL 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday that Tokyo will make “every possible diplomatic effort” to ease tensions around the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.

“We are continuing to work with the international community and will make every possible diplomatic effort,” Takaichi told parliament, according to Tokyo-based Kyodo News.

The statement came after her summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington last week.

Trump has demanded Japan deploy naval forces to join US military operations to open the Strait of Hormuz, which is under effective control of Iran.

Almost 90% of Japan’s energy supplies pass through the critical waterway, and its vessels remain stranded, and Tokyo has already begun releasing its strategic oil reserves to meet domestic demand.

On her summit with the US president, Takaichi told lawmakers that Trump said that “ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz is extremely important" and requested contributions from Japan and other countries regarding navigational safety.

“I responded by saying that I also recognize that ensuring navigational safety is important from the perspective of a stable energy supply and explained in detail what can and cannot be done within the scope of our country's laws,” said Takaichi, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Japan’s war-renouncing constitution does not allow it to join overseas fights.

Separately, Kyodo News reported that Tokyo is “considering procuring” crude oil from Kazakhstan.

Japanese state-backed Japanese oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp., which holds rights to crude oil in Kazakhstan, “may redirect a portion to Japan,” said the report.

“Transporting crude oil from Kazakhstan to Japan, however, is likely to take longer due to the greater distance, and the procurement costs may also be comparatively higher,” according to the report.

It added that Inpex “is also looking into doing business with Azerbaijan and Australia, where it additionally holds rights to crude oil and natural gas.”

Regional escalation in the Middle East has continued to flare since the joint attacks by the US and Israel on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

Tehran has also imposed control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy and other supplies to most of Asia.