Iran has expressed its readiness to help Japanese oil tankers pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Kyodo News in an interview published on Saturday.

Japan relies on oil imports from the Middle East, most of which pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz. (Illustrative)

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli attacks, prompting countries that rely on this strategic passage to look for alternative routes before depleting their reserves.

In a phone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passage, stressing that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while assistance is provided to other nations.

He said, “We have not closed the strait; it is open,” adding that Iran is ready to ensure safe passage for Japan.

Japan, which has the fourth-largest economy in the world, is also the fifth-largest oil importer. Ninety-five percent of its oil imports come from the Middle East, with 70 percent passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, Tokyo announced the start of withdrawals from its strategic oil reserves, which are among the largest in the world.

The country has reserves sufficient to cover domestic consumption for 254 days.

On March 11, member countries of the International Energy Agency agreed to use their oil stocks to limit price increases caused by the war in the Middle East.