The Philippines has won a diplomatic assurance from Iran that Philippine-flagged vessels, energy shipments, and Filipino seafarers will be allowed safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The commitment followed a phone call on Thursday between Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in which the two sides discussed energy supply security and the safety of Filipino seafarers. The DFA said the conversation produced a positive understanding on both fronts, while Lazaro described the exchange as very productive and framed the outcome as supportive of Philippine energy security.
The Philippines imports 98% of its crude oil from the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia its largest supplier. The war has already led to a blockade of the Hormuz, while Iran has simultaneously maintained that the strait remains open on a conditional basis for vessels from countries it does not treat as hostile.
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Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, Philippine officials asked Tehran to formally designate the Philippines as a non-hostile country to ensure safe passage for Philippine-bound ships. The request was followed by a meeting on Wednesday between Lazaro, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, and Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh, with the DOE then finalizing details for the immediate transmission of vessel information through diplomatic channels.
Marcos has said the Philippines has enough fuel to last until the end of June, but he still ordered the DOE to secure additional supplies and expand stockpiles because of the uncertainty created by the conflict.
The Philippines is currently considered a close defense ally of the US, yet Manila says it is not involved in the conflict with Iran. The country declared a state of national energy emergency last week as Marcos pointed out that the Middle East energy crisis may provide the opening needed to restart joint oil and gas development talks with China in the disputed South China Sea.
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