OREANDA-NEWS   Japan refused to send its ships to the Strait of Hormuz after a request from US President Donald Trump. This is reported by Bloomberg.

"The most important thing is to make our efforts, including diplomatic ones, to resolve the situation," Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said after a late—night telephone conversation with Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in turn, stressed that the country has not yet received an official request, but promised that she would act within the framework of her country's legislation.

"The Japanese government is currently considering how to respond to this situation," Takaichi said when asked what Tokyo's reaction would be if U.S. President Donald Trump explicitly asked her for support during a meeting in Washington.

Koizumi said that in general, conducting a maritime security operation using ships of the Japan Self-Defense Forces is possible in special circumstances when Japanese ships need protection, Japanese life or property is in danger, or when stability needs to be maintained. At the same time, the minister refused to answer whether the situation in Iran is such a case.

Earlier, Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other countries affected by the situation in the Middle East to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.