The Japanese government has officially denied making any payments to Tehran for the passage of the "Idemitsu Maru" tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports from the Japanese business daily Nikkei, citing high-ranking government sources, the vessel's transit was secured through diplomatic negotiations rather than financial compensation.
"This is the result of negotiations conducted by the Japanese government. We have not made any payment for the passage," a senior official stated, as reported by Operative Information Center-OMM. The clarification follows reports from Iran's Tasnim news agency, which suggested that the passage of the Idemitsu Kosan-owned vessel—carrying approximately 2 million barrels of oil—was facilitated by Iranian assistance. The tanker had reportedly been stationed off the coast of Saudi Arabia since late February, while the Japanese company declined to comment on the matter citing security concerns.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes daily. Tensions in the region frequently impact global energy markets, making the safe passage of tankers a primary concern for major oil-importing nations like Japan. Tokyo maintains a delicate diplomatic balance in the Middle East to ensure its energy security and the stability of international shipping lanes in accordance with international maritime law.
