Iran to Allow Japanese Ships Through Strait of Hormuz | Oil Transit News
TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Tehran is prepared to allow Japanese-related ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies and a critical waterway for Japan’s oil imports. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the region following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel in late February.
Discussions with Japan regarding safe passage have already begun, according to a transcript of Araghchi’s interview with Kyodo News posted to his Telegram account. Araghchi stated the issue was raised during a phone call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday, March 16th.
Motegi, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, expressed concern over the number of Japanese-affiliated vessels halted in the Persian Gulf and requested that Iran “take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of all the vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including those of Japan and other Asian countries.”
Japan relies on the Middle East for over 90 percent of its crude oil imports, with the vast majority of that oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The potential disruption of this flow prompted urgent diplomatic efforts, culminating in Araghchi’s offer. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had previously warned that any ships attempting to transit the waterway would be targeted, effectively bringing marine traffic to a standstill following the February 28th attacks.
Araghchi clarified that the strait remains open, but restrictions are in place for vessels belonging to countries involved in attacks against Iran. “We have not closed the strait. It is open,” he told Kyodo News. “It is closed only to ships belonging to our enemies, countries that attack us. For other countries, ships can pass through the strait,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
The Iranian foreign minister indicated that Iran is prepared to provide safe passage to countries like Japan, provided they coordinate with Tehran. “We are talking to them to find a way to pass safely. We are ready to provide them with safe passage. All they necessitate to do is contact us to discuss how this route will be,” Araghchi said.
While Araghchi stated Iran is seeking “not a cease-fire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to the war,” the specifics of coordination with Japan remain undisclosed. Details of the ongoing negotiations were not revealed by either side, and it remains unclear what form that coordination will take or what guarantees Iran will offer regarding the safety of Japanese vessels.