Fate of Japan-Linked Ships in Persian Gulf Remains Uncertain

Tokyo, April 14 (Jiji Press)–It is becoming even more uncertain whether some 40 Japan-linked ships trapped in the Persian Gulf will be able to leave the area through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transport waterway, in the near future. After two-day U.S.-Iran talks held in Islamabad through Sunday to end the fighting between the two nations finished without an agreement, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump started blockading areas off Iran to prevent the entries and departures of Iranian ships. Now that tensions in the region increased further, expectations for the passage through the strait that heightened after the two-week ceasefire agreed by Washington and Tehran April 7 dwindled rapidly. “We don’t know again how the situation will develop,” a Japanese government official said regarding the outlook about the Japanese ships leaving the Persian Gulf. The U.S. blockade is unlikely to have any direct impact on Japanese shipping companies, whose ships possibly do not travel to and from Iran amid ongoing economic sanctions on the country. Still, an informed source said, “The situation in the Strait of Hormuz deteriorated further.” Under the circumstances, a Japan-related ship has been newly found to remain in the Persian Gulf. Tsuneishi Group Corp., based in the city of Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, said Monday that a transport vessel of affiliated Kambara Kisen Co. is standing by in the gulf. No Japanese is aboard the ship. Meanwhile, three vessels linked to Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. had exited the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz by April 6, the day before the United States and Iran agreed on the two-week ceasefire. Iran is believed to be allowing ships of friendly nations that pay passage fees to sail through the strait. Two of the three Mitsui O.S.K.-linked ships are registered in India, a friendly nation of Iran, and headed for the South Asian country. The destination of the other ship, registered in Panama, was Oman, which also has friendly ties with Iran. The major shipping company has remained mum on whether it paid passage fees to Iran. A public relations official of Nippon Yusen K.K., another major Japanese shipping firm, said that there has been no major change in the situation. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]