Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro,  Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.  Handout photo

Article (news)

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775029623767HEzWzilb0AAcCvo.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. Handout photo</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro has met with Iranian Ambassador Yousef Esmaeilzadeh to discuss cooperation between the two countries.The meeting comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the DFA to hold talks to ensure safe passage of ships carrying oil and fuel for the Philippines through the Strait of Hormuz. The Philippines is currently under a year-long national energy emergency, with the government moving to secure stable fuel supply and mitigate the impact of global oil price volatility.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/1/senator-pushes-for-immediate-fuel-rationing-1505">Senator pushes for immediate fuel rationing </a></div>&quot;Joined by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, we discussed key avenues for cooperation,&quot; Lazaro said.&quot;Building on the momentum of our Political Consultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooperation,&quot; she also said.Iran&#x27;s restriction of passage through the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli attacks has raised pump prices worldwide and threatened supply from the oil-rich Middle East, which is also known as West Asia.The foreign affairs department offered no further details of the meeting, but it comes just days after Malaysia announced its tankers would be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without paying any toll to Iran.The Iranian embassy in Manila declined to comment on the meeting.A stock exchange filing on Monday revealed that the Philippines&#x27; sole oil refinery had secured nearly 2.5 million barrels of Russian crude out of &quot;extreme necessity&quot;.AFP had previously reported that a tanker filled with Russian crude oil had arrived at the harbor servicing refinery operator Petron Corp, a purchase unthinkable before the United States eased sanctions tied to Moscow&#x27;s war in Ukraine.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/1/carpio-philippines-committing-suicide-if-it-accepts-china-s-oil-and-gas-terms-1148">Carpio: Philippines &#x27;committing suicide&#x27; if it accepts China&#x27;s oil and gas terms as talks resume </a></div>On March 13, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the Philippines as chair, urged all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to &quot;exercise utmost self-restraint, and resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue, and respect for international law.&quot; -- with a report from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse

"Building on the momentum of our Political Consultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooperation," Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said.

"Building on the momentum of our Political Consultations last November 2025, we are committed to deepening our cooperation across all fronts, particularly energy cooperation," Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said.

PH officials, Iran ambassador meet on energy issues, cooperation

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PH officials, Iran ambassador meet on energy issues, cooperation

ABS-CBN News

Published April 01, 2026 03:55 PM PHT

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Updated April 01, 2026 05:11 PM PHT

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Theresa Lazaro

Sharon Garin

Department of Foreign Affairs

Department of Energy

Iran

Strait of Hormuz

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