Iran Allows Japanese Ships to Pass Through Strait of Hormuz, Ready to Provide Safe Route

Iran will allow Japanese ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran is currently signalling a selective blockade of the strategic waterway.

“We have not closed the strait. In our view, the strait is open. The strait is only closed to ships belonging to our enemies, countries that attack us. For other countries, ships can pass through the strait,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan’s Kyodo News, as reported by AFP on Sunday (22/3/2026).

Araghchi said Iran is in discussions with Japan so that their ships can pass safely. He conveyed that Iran is ready to provide a safe route.

“We are talking with them to find a way for them to pass through the strait safely. We are ready to provide a safe route for them. All they need to do is contact us to discuss how this route will be,” he said.

Japan imports more than 90 per cent of its crude oil from the Middle East and is heavily dependent on exports passing through the strait. However, the waterway has been de facto closed since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned at the start of the war that its forces would burn any ship attempting to cross the waterway, causing maritime traffic to nearly halt. However, over the past week, Iran has softened its rhetoric by stating that the strait is only closed to Tehran’s enemies.

Japan may soon join a small group of countries, mainly China, India, and Pakistan, whose ships have been allowed to cross the waterway in recent days with approval from Iranian authorities.

Lloyd’s List, a shipping and maritime information service, separately reported that 10 ships have crossed the strait by sailing close to Iran’s coastline, a route that has emerged as a safe corridor for shipping. Most recently, a Greek bulk carrier passed on Friday by going near Iran’s Larak Island, said Lloyd’s, while broadcasting the message “Food Cargo for Iran”.

Although ships have been crossing on a case-by-case basis, Lloyd’s List reported that the IRGC is developing a more coordinated inspection and registration system. As the war against Iran enters its third week, several countries, including US allies, have begun lobbying Tehran to reopen the strait or allow their ships to pass safely.

Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement earlier this week. They expressed their readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq, Malaysia, China, India, and Pakistan have reportedly held direct talks with Tehran on this issue, according to Lloyd’s.

Araghchi’s statement to Kyodo follows a phone call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday, in which Tokyo expressed concern about the many Japanese ships currently stranded in the Gulf.