Japan urges Iran to ensure safe maritime navigation

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has urged Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to provide a “constructive” response to efforts aimed at restoring free and safe navigation along major maritime routes. During a telephone conversation, Motegi emphasized the importance of ensuring safe passage through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, following the seizure of a strategic island by Houthi rebels.

Motegi also noted that the future of the Strait of Hormuz, which has faced disruptions following military actions in February, should be discussed with the international community. He called for “maximum flexibility” from Tehran as indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran continue.

In response, Abbas Araghchi stated that there is “no military solution” to the conflict between Iran and the United States. Addressing foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Araghchi warned that while Iran would defend itself with increased force if confronted militarily, escalation and new sanctions would not resolve the dispute. He advocated for negotiations based on “justice and equity” to end the conflict.