Manila, April 1 -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin sought to deepen energy cooperation between the Philippines and Iran in a meeting with the latter's top envoy to Manila on Wednesday.

The two secretaries met with Iranian Ambassador to the Philippines Yousef Esmaeilzadeh in Pasay City a day after Malacanang instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to initiate talks with Tehran to ensure the safe passage of Philippine-bound ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, Lazaro said the two sides discussed "key avenues for cooperation," and that the meeting builds on the momentum of Iran and the Philippines' previous 2025 political talks.

"Building on the momentum of our Polit...