A Japanese company's oil tanker carrying Saudi Arabian crude reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranian government's approval. This is the first time a Japanese oil tanker has exited the strait since the U.S.-Iran war.
According to Iran's state-run Press TV, one oil tanker owned by a Japanese company passed through the Strait of Hormuz with authorization from Iranian authorities.
According to the report, the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Idemitsu Maru, owned by a Japanese corporation, reportedly departed the Gulf waters (the Persian Gulf) in the morning after loading about 2 million barrels of crude and passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the process, it was reported to have received passage approval from Iranian authorities, but it was not confirmed whether the so-called "toll" was actually paid.
Bloomberg reported that the tanker had been waiting in the strait after loading crude at Saudi Arabia's Ju'aymah terminal in early last month. It is now traveling along the northern route designated by Iranian authorities, passing near Qeshm Island and Larak Island.
Three Japan-related vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz early this month, but all were liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, making this the first case of an oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz.