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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA chief sets talk with Iranian envoy — Castro

DFA chief sets talk with Iranian envoy — Castro

Published Mar 31, 2026 01:11 pm
DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro keynotes the Philippines' high-level meeting on Loss and Damage at the UN General Assembly in New York. (Photo from Sec. Lazaro via X post)
DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro keynotes the Philippines' high-level meeting on Loss and Damage at the UN General Assembly in New York. (Photo from Sec. Lazaro via X post)
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will seek talks with Iran's top diplomat in Manila to ensure safe passage of tankers bringing oil bound for the Philippines as the country races against time to secure enough fuel before looming global shortage.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro made the disclosure Tuesday, March 31, after President Marcos met with members of the UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) Committee, an inter-agency task force he established in response to his national energy energy declaration brought by the Middle East conflict.
According to Castro, the President directed Lazaro to sit down with Iranian Ambassador to Manila Yousef Esmaeil Zadeh in light of the Philippines' looming needs for fuel sources.
"Ayon po kay Secretary Tess Lazaro ng DFA, makikipag-usap po siya sa ambassador ng Iran, most probably po ay tomorrow. Kung hindi man po magkakaroon ng tomorrow, by next week po (According to DFA Secretary Tess Lazaro, she will speak with the Ambassador of Iran, most probably tomorrow. If it doesn't happen tomorrow, it will be by next week)," Castro said.
However, it was not clear if there would be oil tankers bound for the Philippines already, according to Castro.
The Philippines is optimistic of its talk with Iran as Castro cited Lazaro saying that Manila has good relations with Tehran.
"Sa akin pong pagkakaalam at sinabi po rin naman ni Secretary Tess Lazaro, maganda naman po ang relasyon natin sa bansang Iran (To my knowledge, and as Secretary Tess Lazaro also mentioned, we have a good relationship with the country of Iran)," Castro said.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, the Iranian ambassador said relations between the two countries "are historical and steadily progressing."
With the recent arrival of Russian oil in the country, Marcos said the Philippines' oil supply is enough until the end of June. There are also hundreds of thousands of oil barrels coming from Japan, Malaysia/Singapore and Oman in the coming weeks, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

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