TOKYO (Bernama-Kyodo): Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday called for the free and safe passage of ships through the effectively closed Strait of Hormuz in phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kyodo News Agency reported.
Amid uncertainty regarding the progress of peace talks over the US-Israeli war against Iran, the prime minister told reporters she also expressed "strong hope" that the Iranian side "will show the greatest possible flexibility and that an agreement can be reached as soon as possible."
Takaichi and Pezeshkian held their third phone talks since the conflict began in late February. Amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, the prime minister said she and the Iranian president agreed to continue close communications.
Resource-poor Japan is highly dependent on West Asia for imports of commodities including crude oil, much of which passes through the strait, a critical energy chokepoint.
The talks come amid uncertainty over peace talks between the United States and Iran.
According to media reports in the two countries, both sides are seeking revisions to a memorandum of understanding to extend their ceasefire by 60 days despite US government sources saying negotiators had largely agreed on it last Thursday.
-- BERNAMA-KYODO
