Philippines sets talks with Iran on oil ships' passage
Source: The Philippine Star
Philippines sets talks with Iran on oil ships' passage
Alexis Romero - The Philippine Star
April 1, 2026 12:00am
A vessel containing 142,000 barrels or 22.57 [million] liters of diesel procured by the government as seen in a Deparmtent of Energy-released image on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
DOE / Sharon Garin / Released
MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines is set to hold talks with Iran to ensure the safe passage of Philippine-bound oil ships through the Strait of Hormuz, now effectively under Tehran's control.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro will meet with Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh to discuss the issue as part of efforts to ensure the Philippines' energy security in the face of soaring fuel prices driven by the raging war in the Middle East. The US-Israel attack on Iran triggered the war.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos gave Lazaro the order to talk with Tehran, during a meeting of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) committee last Monday. ... "Yesterday, the UPLIFT had a meeting and the President gave that order to Secretary Tess Lazaro, and according to Secretary Tess Lazaro of DFA, she will talk to the ambassador of Iran, most probably tomorrow. If not tomorrow, by next week," Castro said at a press briefing yesterday.
About 3,000 vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz each month, but the number has plummeted because of Iran's threat to attack ships transiting through the maritime channel.
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Read more: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/04/01/2518251/philippines-sets-talks-iran-oil-ships-passage
All the news, before it happens? Midnight Philippines time on April 1 is about noon on March 31 eastern time, so we're okay.
DU has a member, pototan, who lives in the Philippines. I am posting this with him in mind.
I have no idea how trustworthy the Philippines Star is, so I'm violating my own admonition. This looks pretty straightforward. I report; you decide.
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Shipwreck
@shipwreck75.bsky.social
Yet another key regional ally left to fend for itself...
Philippines Foreign Ministry: Will meet with Iranian officials to discuss safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the nation is set to run out of fuel within weeks.
1:05 PM · Mar 31, 2026
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Yet another key regional ally left to fend for itself…
— Shipwreck (@shipwreck75.bsky.social) 2026-03-31T17:05:37.156Z
Philippines Foreign Ministry: Will meet with Iranian officials to discuss safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the nation is set to run out of fuel within weeks.