What did Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi specifically urge Iran to do regarding the Strait of Hormuz during her phone call with President Pezeshkian?

Takaichi 'once again strongly urged that all vessels — including those of Japan and other Asian countries — be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz freely and safely as soon as possible.' She reiterated Japan’s position that de-escalation through dialogue is crucial and expressed hope that Iran would 'continue to demonstrate the utmost flexibility to achieve an agreement as quickly as possible.'

Why is the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz especially critical for Japan, according to the news article?

Resource-poor Japan is highly dependent on the Middle East to source its oil, so the longer the crisis continues, the larger the impact on Japan’s economy is likely to be. Japanese shipowners are conservative, and few Japan-linked vessels have transited the strait since Tehran effectively closed it after US and Israeli strikes began at the end of February; only a handful — including the Idemitsu Maru and Eneos Endeavor — have made rare transits. As of the time of the report, 39 Japanese-affiliated ships remained in the Persian Gulf, one with Japanese crew members, underscoring the operational and safety stakes. Additionally, Takaichi has already called for an extra budget to respond to the Middle East crisis, and energy costs amid the coming hot summer months have become a top-priority concern for both government and public.

Japan's Takaichi Urges Safe Vessel Passage Through Hormuz Strait in Call with Iran

Jun 1, 2026

Japanese PM Takaichi urged safe vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz during a call with Iran's President, citing Japan's reliance on Middle Eastern oil. Diplomatic efforts aim to de-escalate tensions impacting energy supplies and shipping logistics amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

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Japan's Takaichi Urges Safe Vessel Passage Through Hormuz Strait in Call with Iran

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