Japan govt may compile extra budget if Iran conflict continues

"The possibility is not zero if (the fighting) is prolonged," Takaichi said at a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on the government's draft fiscal 2026 budget.

The prime minister said the Middle East situation will not lead to an immediate increase in electricity and gas bills, and that the government is not at the stage of deciding whether to extend its subsidies for the utility charges, currently in place for January through March.

Regarding imports of liquefied natural gas that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the prime minister explained that they account for roughly six pct of Japan's total LNG imports.

She added that, if any disruption to stable supply were to occur, Japan would respond by securing alternative supplies from other exporting countries or from the spot market.

Takaichi said she will speak frankly about the issue of Iran with U.S. President Donald Trump at a summit slated for March 19.

"We will protect our country by ourselves. No one will help a country that does not think this way," she said regarding the planned revisions of the government's three key national security-related documents by the end of the year.

"We must advance the drastic strengthening of defense capability at a faster pace than before."

At the committee meeting, the prime minister again urged opposition parties to cooperate in securing the enactment of the fiscal 2026 draft budget within the current fiscal year, which ends this month.

"There have been attacks on Iran. I strongly request that the budget be enacted as early as possible," she said.

Also, Takaichi said she will instruct related ministries and agencies to take action based on the findings of an ongoing investigation into a fire at a sauna facility in Tokyo's Akasaka district last December, which resulted in the deaths of a married couple.

Regarding the prime minister's controversial distribution of gift catalogs worth about 30,000 yen each to all Lower House members in her ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who won their seats in the February 8 election, Takaichi said that, while the practice does not violate any laws, she will refrain from such action if it is subject to criticism.

She again defended the gift catalogs, which cost about 10 million yen in total, saying, "It was my way of expressing gratitude for hard work."