Philippine and Iranian officials met on Wednesday to discuss ‘key avenues for cooperation’, amid Tehran’s blockade of the strait
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenSam BeltranPublished: 8:55pm, 1 Apr 2026Manila is following its Southeast Asian neighbours’ lead by seeking talks with Iran to secure safe passage for Philippine-bound tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a move observers have called “a matter of survival”.Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro posted on social media that she and energy secretary Sharon Garin had met Iran’s envoy Yousef Esmaeilzadeh on Wednesday to discuss energy cooperation and the advancement of bilateral ties.
“Pleased to meet Iranian Ambassador to PH, H.E. Yousef Esmaeilzadeh today to further our bilateral agenda. Joined by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, we discussed key avenues for cooperation. Building on the momentum of our Political Consultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooperation,” she wrote.
According to the International Maritime Organization, some 2,000 remain stranded as Iran continues to seal the strait, only allowing passage of a few vessels from “friendly” countries.
