Japanese premier urges Iran to ensure ships navigate Hormuz safely

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday urged Iran to ensure ships can navigate safely through the Strait of Hormuz, an official statement said.

Her remarks came during a phone call, the second with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian since the Middle East armed conflict began on Feb. 28.

Takaichi also conveyed Tokyo's "strong hope" that negotiations between the US and Iran would "resume soon and reach a final agreement," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Welcoming the passage of a Japanese vessel carrying three Japanese crew members through the Strait of Hormuz, Takaichi reiterated her call for free and safe navigation in the strait for vessels from all countries, including Japan and other Asian nations.

On Tuesday, MarineTraffic data showed that the Japanese crude tanker Idemitsu Maru crossed the strait carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil, marking the first such transit since the outbreak of the Iran war.

Iran has closed the key waterway since the US and Israel initiated a war against Tehran on Feb. 28. Later, the US imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports which remains in place.

According to the Iranian Presidency, Pezeshkian described what he called "provocative remarks" by the US side amid the blockade of Iranian ports, which are "unacceptable and contrary to international law."

He warned such actions could "further escalate regional tensions."

More than 40 Japan-related vessels remain in the Persian Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has faced major disruptions since early March following the start of the US-Israel joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28.

A ceasefire is in place, but maritime traffic in the area remains heavily restricted.