The Philippines says it has secured an assurance from Iran that Philippine-flagged vessels, Filipino seafarers and energy shipments will be allowed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The commitment was announced by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro after a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday.
In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Iran had assured Manila that it would permit safe, unhindered and expeditious passage through the strait for Philippine-flagged ships, energy supplies and all Filipino seafarers.
Lazaro said the development is important both for the safety of Filipino crew members operating in the region and for the Philippines’ energy security.
However, questions remain over how such a guarantee would apply in practice. Many Filipino seafarers work aboard ships with a wide range of flags, ownership structures and cargoes, and some of those vessels may fall into categories Iran has warned it may not permit to transit the strait.
The Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, with around 400,000 working internationally across the global merchant fleet.
The country is also heavily dependent on the Arabian Gulf for energy imports. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, 98% of Philippine oil imports come from the region. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national state of energy emergency on 24 March following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran after the conflict with the US and Israel began on 28 February.
The Philippine government said the arrangement with Iran should also help safeguard fertiliser imports alongside oil supplies.
