TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe briefed Iran President Hassan Rouhani on Tokyo’s plan to send naval forces to the Middle East to protect Japanese vessels on Friday (Dec. 20), Reuters reported, citing a Japanese official.

Rouhani responded that he understood Japan’s intention was to contribute to navigational safety.

According to a draft plan approved by parties in Japan’s ruling coalition, it will deploy a destroyer and P-3C patrol aircraft to gather information in the Gulf region. It is the source of nearly 90 percent of Japan’s crude oil imports.

Should an emergency situation arise, a special order will be issued by the defense minister to allow Japanese forces to use weapons and protect ships under attack.

Since Japan maintains friendly ties with Iran it is running its own operation to protect shipping in the region, rather than joining a U.S.-led mission.

Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added that this country’s negotiations with Japan were “very heavy and intensive,” according to an ISNA news agency report on Saturday (Dec. 21).

Bilateral, regional, and international issues, as well as the 2015 nuclear deal and U.S. sanctions, were discussed by Rouhani and Abe, according to AP.