The Philippines鈥 top diplomat and energy chief met with Iran鈥檚 envoy to Manila on Wednesday to discuss energy cooperation, as the Southeast Asian nation grapples with rising oil prices amid the war in the Middle East.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin discussed the matter with Iranian ambassador Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh, Ms. Lazaro said in a post on X.
鈥溾婤uilding on the momentum of our political consultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooperation,鈥 she said. No other details were given.
It was not immediately clear if they talked about the possibility of allowing Philippine-bound ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains largely closed. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier asked his top diplomat to discuss the passage through the strait with Iran.
Thailand has said Iran has allowed its ships to sail through the strait while Malaysia said its tankers can pass through the waterway without being subject to a toll imposed by Tehran.
The Philippines, which sources nearly all of its oil needs from the Middle East, has scrambled for additional supply to address any potential shortages due to the Iran war.
The nation has declared a national energy emergency, while its central bank has warned that average inflation may shot up above its target ceiling this year on higher fuel prices. — Bloomberg
