The Wall Street Journal | Chieko Tsuneoka: Japan said Friday it would dispatch a small naval squad to waters near Iran as part of efforts to ensure safe navigation, a rare move to send military forces into an area of international strains.

A string of attacks on shipping—including one in June on a Japanese-operated oil tanker off the coast of Iran—has heightened tensions this year. The U.S. and its allies have blamed the attacks on Iran, which says it isn’t responsible.

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