TOKYO - An Idemitsu Kosan crude oil tanker has safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first vessel bound for Japan to do so since attacks on Iran heightened tensions in the region and effectively disrupted maritime traffic.
The vessel, Idemitsu Maru, was seen leaving the narrow waterway in the Middle East and moving into the Arabian Sea, according to ship-tracking service MarineTraffic, with its destination listed as Nagoya, and is believed to have exited the Persian Gulf and is currently navigating the Gulf of Oman.
Iranian state media reported that the tanker was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil and that its transit through the strait had been approved by Iranian authorities.
According to people familiar with the matter, the health of the three crew members who boarded the vessel from Japan was not in danger.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a social media post that one Japan-related vessel had already evacuated from the Persian Gulf. 'Around every possible opportunity, we have continued diplomatic engagement with Iran,' Takaichi said. 'I personally conveyed Japan's position to President Pezeshkian.' Her remarks appeared aimed at highlighting diplomatic efforts behind what is believed to be the first successful passage of a Japan-bound tanker since the attacks on Iran.
Japan and Iran have maintained friendly ties for decades. Earlier in the day, before the status of Idemitsu Maru became clear, the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo issued a message referencing the historic mission of the Nissho Maru, a tanker owned by Idemitsu.
The embassy said the April 28 transit of the Panama-flagged tanker reflects the long-standing friendship between the two countries, drawing parallels to the 1953 mission in which Idemitsu’s tanker transported Iranian crude to Japan while evading a British maritime blockade. It added that the episode stands as proof of enduring ties between the nations and that the legacy continues to hold significant meaning today, underscoring the historical relationship between Japan and Iran in the energy sector.
Even so, an estimated 41 Japan-related vessels are still believed to remain in the Persian Gulf.
With reports that President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade, swift action continues to be sought to secure the safety of shipping in the region.
Source: FNN
