Iran has indicated its willingness to allow vessels linked to Japan to pass through the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, a crucial channel for global oil transport.
This was reported by Kyodo News, citing remarks from Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi.
According to the report, Tehran has initiated discussions with Tokyo regarding the potential reopening of the waterway.
Araqchi disclosed this development during a phone interview with the Japanese news outlet on Friday.
Efforts by Reuters to obtain official responses from Japan’s foreign and trade ministries, as well as the Prime Minister’s Office, were unsuccessful on Saturday.
Japan relies heavily on the strait for its energy needs, with about 90 percent of its oil imports passing through the route.
The waterway has largely remained closed by Tehran amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The conflict, now entering its fourth week, has driven a surge in global oil prices, prompting Japan and other nations to tap into strategic petroleum reserves.
In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday. During the meeting, Trump urged Japan to increase its involvement as part of broader efforts to persuade allies to deploy naval forces to secure the strait, though such appeals have yet to yield results.
Speaking after the meeting in Washington, Takaichi said she had outlined to Trump the extent of Japan’s possible contributions within the limits of its legal framework.
Japan’s ability to engage militarily abroad remains constrained by its postwar pacifist constitution. However, legislation enacted in 2015 permits the use of force overseas under specific conditions, particularly if an attack on Japan or a close ally poses a direct threat to the country’s survival and no alternative measures are available.
