The head of the Japanese government, Sanae Takaichi, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declared on Wednesday that they oppose the establishment of transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The officials spoke about the close collaboration between their countries, against the backdrop of the deadlock in negotiations between the USA and Iran.
In a press statement made after a phone call with the Turkish president, the Japanese Prime Minister mentioned the importance of “ensuring free and safe navigation” through the strait, “without additional costs”.
On this occasion, the Japanese Prime Minister conveyed to the Turkish President that Japan appreciates the efforts of the authorities in Ankara to mediate the conflict in the Middle East. The two high officials agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as security, economy, and education.
In turn, Erdogan stated that his views on this key artery for hydrocarbon transportation are in “complete agreement” with the ideas expressed by Sanae Takaichi, reports Agerpres.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily restricted, as negotiations between the USA and Tehran are at a standstill regarding control over the strategic route and transit fees. Tehran would intend to impose payments for ship passage and demand authorizations, but the White House rejects the idea.