Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday (August 3) urged the restoration of free and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz in a phone call with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, amid continued deadlock in US-Iran negotiations over the conflict.
The call came amid rising regional tensions that have threatened the world's most critical oil shipping lane. Hormuz is the strait linking the Persian Gulf to the open sea, through which about 20% of globally consumed oil passes.
Prime Minister Takaichi's direct outreach to the Sultan reflects Tokyo's diplomatic efforts to promote regional stability, as dialogues between Washington and Tehran over nuclear issues and other disputes have made little progress.
Oman is regarded as one of the Middle East's active mediators and maintains good relations with both the United States and Iran. Japan's choice of this channel underscores Tokyo's confidence in Muscat's mediating role in regional diplomacy.
Japan has long been heavily dependent on oil imports from the Middle East, making maritime security in this area vital to its economy. Tokyo has previously participated in maritime protection activities in the region because of the strategic importance of this route.
The phone call is also part of a series of diplomatic engagements by Japan's government to maintain close contact with Gulf states and help ease tensions amid the complex and evolving situation in the Middle East.
