Pakistan has held talks with Iranian authorities to obtain approval for a small number of Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Ship-tracking records show the Qatari tanker Al Kharaitiyat left the strait and was in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday after loading at Qatar's Ras Laffan export terminal earlier this month. The vessel was recorded listing Pakistan as its next destination and appeared to have taken a northern corridor close to the Iranian coastline that had received Tehran's approval, the tracking data indicates.
Those tracking the situation said the shipment forms part of private negotiations between officials in Islamabad and Tehran aimed at routing additional Qatari LNG cargoes through the strait to meet pressing domestic demand. Pakistan has recently refrained from buying more expensive spot-market LNG, instead pursuing the prospect of securing supplies from suppliers in the Middle East.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict erupted at the end of February has reduced global LNG shipments, contributing to higher prices and shortages across parts of Asia. Qatar, which accounted for nearly a fifth of global LNG output last year, has been unable to move shipments out of the Persian Gulf since the disruption began.
The passage of the Al Kharaitiyat follows at least two tankers that loaded at an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. export facility and have traversed the strait since the conflict started. Earlier attempts to dispatch Qatari shipments through Hormuz reportedly ended when tankers turned back.
Context and implications
Pakistan's discussions with Iran reflect a tactical effort to alleviate urgent energy shortages without resorting to the spot market. Routing a limited number of cargoes via a Tehran-approved northern pathway could provide near-term relief, but the arrangement appears constrained to a small number of shipments and depends on continued cooperation from Iranian authorities.
Ship movements and private negotiations remain the primary visible indicators of whether Middle Eastern suppliers can partially bypass broader restrictions on Gulf exports imposed by the conflict, while regional exporters and importers monitor each successful transit closely.