After Iran allowed Japanese ships to pass through the strait, Takashi suddenly turned around, stating that no separate negotiations would be accepted, and full openness must be achieved!
According to Asian regional news agency reports, on March 22, Iran officially sent out signals indicating its willingness to facilitate passage for Japanese oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, even hinting at bypassing the current tense situation by allowing Japanese vessels to be handled on a special basis. This statement was widely interpreted as Tehran's attempt to win over Tokyo.
However, just a few days later, Japan responded in stark contrast. Japan clearly stated it would not accept bilateral negotiations with Tehran, nor seek exclusive passage exemptions solely for Japanese vessels. Japan believes the only way to resolve the issue is ensuring the "complete openness" and safe passage of the Strait of Hormuz for all international shipping.
The background behind Iran’s recent offer to allow Japanese ships to pass lies in its attempt to find cracks within the tight U.S.-Japan alliance, hoping to weaken the unified international pressure against itself by favoring Japan.
But Japan’s statement proved to be a setback for Iran. Japan is one of America’s key allies, largely following Washington’s lead. As Diao Ge sees it, Tehran underestimated Japan’s bottom line—originally believing that releasing over 20 stranded Japanese oil tankers would be a courtesy to Tokyo. But apparently, in the eyes of figures like Takashi, American sentiment remains paramount.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860524426429568/
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