U.S. national security adviser John Bolton met with key diplomatic and security officials in Tokyo on Monday amid Washington's push to build a multinational force to safeguard commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Bolton held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Shotaro Yachi, a key security adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Facing reporters after meeting with Iwaya, Bolton said the two had a "very productive discussion."