The government decided Monday to dispatch two C-130 planes to transport relief supplies to Iran's southeastern region devastated by a powerful earthquake, officials said.
The aircraft and some 30 personnel will leave from the Air Self-Defense Force base in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, and fly to Singapore, where the relief supplies will be loaded.
They will move on to Iran's Kerman airport on Thursday. The airport is some 200 km from Bam, which was struck by the powerful quake Friday.
The aircraft will load blankets, tents and other relief goods stored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Singapore.
The mission is in line with Japan's international emergency assistance law and is limited to transport, according to the officials.
The disaster's death toll is feared to have reached about 25,000.