Manila, July 22 -- On the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meetings in Manila, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday to align strategies on pressing Middle Eastern tensions and Indo-Pacific security.

During their exchange, Minister Motegi underscored the urgency of de-escalating tensions surrounding Iran. He specifically emphasised the critical need to safeguard free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime corridor for global energy supplies, without incurring additional transit or security costs.

"Minister MOTEGI and Secretary Rubio exchanged views on the situation surrounding Iran. Minister MOTEGI emphasaized the importance of...