PH relations with Iran remains the same — DFA chief
Published Mar 24, 2026 09:13 pm
The Philippines has no plans of changing the status of its diplomatic relations with Iran amid political developments in the Islamic republic, the country’s top diplomat said.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Manila is not yet reassessing its diplomatic relations with Tehran following a shake-up in its leadership after the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Instead, the government’s priority is the welfare of around 800 Filipinos there, she added.
“Nandon pa rin ang diploamtic relations, simply because meron pa rin tayong mga kababayan na nandon sa loob at iniisip (Diplomatic relations with Iran remain the same, simply because we still have our countrymen there that we are thinking of),” Lazaro said in an interview with GMA News aired Tuesday, March 24.
“Kailangan tayo magkaroon ng access sa kanila (We need to have access to them),” she added.
Unlike the Philippines, the US, Manila’s treaty ally, and Israel do not have diplomatic relations with Iran.
“So ang embahada ng Pilipinas ay nandoon pa rin sa kapitolyo sa Iran, taking care of our people (So the Philippine Embassy is still there in the capital of Iran, taking care of our people),” she added.
Equally, the Philippines does not yet recognize Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's Supreme Leader, the successor to the throne of his slain father.
"Wala pa kaming binibigay na outright recognition. Parang status quo lang (We haven't given any outright recognition yet. It’s just like the status quo.)," she said, adding the Philippines will do so at an "appropriate time."
"So 'di pa muna titingnan muna natin. Kumbaga ang pag-iisip namin ay ano ba ang safety ng ating mga kababayan. The political part, tignan natin hanggang humupa ang sitwasyon (We're not looking into that yet. Our focus now is more on the safety of our countrymen. As for the political part, let’s see once the situation calms down)," she said.
PH not aware of US attack
Meanwhile, Lazaro said Manila was not made aware of Washington's planned attack on Tehran that left its Supreme Leader killed.
She said prior to its joint attack with Tel Aviv, the US was still having nuclear negotiations with Iran in Oman.
"Wala. Hindi natin alam. I think it's a sovereign right ng mga countries, particularly the United States. Meron naman silang sariling batayan sa gagawin nila (Nothing. We didn't know. I think it's a sovereign right of countries, particularly the United States. They have their own basis for what they do)," Lazaro said.
She also said she has no information if the Pentagon asked the Department of National Defense (DND) to use one of its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines.