Japan has received its first shipment of crude oil from Russia since the outbreak of the Iran war, according to multiple media reports. The tanker arrived Monday at the Imabari coast carrying crude produced under the Sakhalin-2 project. Japanese outlets said the cargo was received by Taiyo Oil, though the company has not officially confirmed the delivery. The closure of the Hormuz Strait due to the ongoing Iran conflict has severely disrupted global oil supply.

Japan, which relies on the Middle East for about 95 percent of its oil imports, has been seeking alternative sources since the strait’s closure following the start of the Iran war on February 28. The Sakhalin-2 project remains outside international sanctions imposed on Moscow after the 2022 Ukraine invasion, allowing Japan to import oil from it without restrictions.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during her visit to Australia, said the global oil crisis is having a major impact on the Asia-Pacific region and announced that Japan and Australia will take joint emergency measures to ensure stable energy supply.