Trump, meeting Takaichi, says Tokyo 'really stepping up to the plate' on Iran, 'unlike NATO'

Record ID: 2367625

  • Title: Trump, meeting Takaichi, says Tokyo 'really stepping up to the plate' on Iran, 'unlike NATO'
  • Date: 19th March 2026
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 19, 2026) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, MEETING IN THE OVAL OFFICE WITH JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SANAE TAKAICHI (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING: “We're going to be speaking about it today. We've had tremendous support and relationship with Japan on everything. And I believe that, based on
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Iran Iran war Japan Pearl Harbor Strait of Hormuz Takaichi Trump oil oil prices
  • Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,North America,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA001561219032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:U.S. President Donald Trump greeted Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warmly at the White House on Thursday (March 19) and said he believed Japan was "really stepping up to the plate" on Iran, unlike the NATO alliance.
    Trump has lashed out at allies for their lukewarm support for the U.S.-Israeli military campaign and said the U.S. doesn't need any help. However, he is still pushing for more ships to clear mines and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, largely closed by Iran in the conflict.
    Ahead of the meeting, Japan joined leading nations in Europe in a joint statement, saying they would take steps to stabilize energy markets and were ready to join "appropriate efforts" to ensure safe passage through the Strait.
    Responding to a reporter who asked if he was sending more troops to the region, Trump suggested he was not looking at deploying soldiers to the Middle East with the Iran war heading toward a fourth week.
    Trump also said he had told Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Iranian energy fields, adding that the Israeli Prime Minister had agreed not to.
    Oil prices jumped to as high as $119 a barrel on Thursday as Iran attacked energy facilities across the Middle East following Israel's strike on its South Pars gas field.
    (Production: Ashraf Fahim)
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register