ISTANBUL

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Saturday that Bangkok's negotiations with Iran will help keep oil transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz operating safely and reduce the risk of a major supply disruption.

“One key development was negotiations with Iran to keep oil transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz operating safely, helping to reduce the risk of major supply disruption,” Anutin told reporters in Bangkok, local daily The Nation reported.

He said the Middle East conflict is "dragging on longer than expected” and has “no clear end in sight.”

The prime minister warned that the volatile oil prices could climb again as Middle East tensions persist and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

His remarks came days after a Thai ship passed safely through the Strait of Hormuz following "successful" negotiations with Iran and Oman.

Thailand procures some 56% of its energy supplies, worth around $43 billion in 2024, from the Gulf nations.

A Thai vessel attacked in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month has also run aground and authorities are still searching for the three missing crew members.

Bangkok has sought help from Tehran to locate the missing Thai citizens.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for energy supplies to most Asian nations, remains under effective blockade by Iran, which is currently at war with the US and Israel since late February.