Japan sends warship to Gulf to protect oil tankers as US-Iran tensions simmer

A Japanese warship has departed for the Middle East to ensure the safety of the country's oil tankers in waters where tensions between the US and Iran are high The destroyer Takanami with some 200 sailors left Japan's main naval base in Yokosuka, near Tokyo. Its main task is primarily to gather intelligence in the Gulf of Oman and nearby waters. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the waters “a lifeline that supports the lives of the Japanese people.” Thousands of Japanese ships ply the route every year, transporting 90 per cent of the country's oil supply, he said. Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines Download now “Your mission of...