Last week, the US invited Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, South Korea, the UK, and several other countries to join a maritime protection mission in the Persian Gulf region to counter Iran.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that Tokyo won't send ships to join the US-led maritime force to guard tankers in the Strait of Hormuz amid an escalation of tensions between Tehran and Washington, Japan's Mainichi Shimbun has reported. According to the newspaper, however, Japan may send warships independently in order to protect their vessels in the region.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and continue to collect information while working closely with the United States and other countries", Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga explained.

Japan is not the first country to refuse to send its forces to join the US-proposed mission. Germany ruled out its participation, Belgium and Norway are hesitating, while London announced that the UK had planned its own European-led maritime protection coalition.