Iran Grants Philippines Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz

The government of Iran has granted Philippine-flagged vessels, energy shipments, and Filipino seafarers safe, unhindered, and toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement follows a series of diplomatic efforts led by Maria Theresa Lazaro, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary, including meetings with Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh and a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on April 2, 2026.

This diplomatic breakthrough addresses a critical energy crisis in the Philippines, which imports nearly all of its crude oil from the Middle East. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had declared a one-year state of national energy emergency on March 24 after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 led to a partial blockade of the strait. The disruption caused fuel prices to reach historic highs and left over 20,000 Filipino seafarers stranded.

To secure the agreement, the Philippines requested a designation as a non-hostile country. While the Department of Foreign Affairs denied reports that Iran was imposing toll fees on tankers, the agreement ensures the steady delivery of oil and fertilizer. Simultaneously, the Philippine government has diversified its energy sources by securing diesel from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Oman, and importing crude oil from Russia via Petron Corp to reduce reliance on the Middle East.