A major milestone in the regional energy crisis was reached on Sunday, May 10, as the first Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran, Bloomberg reported.
The tanker Al Kharaitiyat, managed by Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd, departed from the Ras Laffan export facility earlier this month. Tracking data shows the vessel has now entered the Gulf of Oman and is en route to Port Qasim in Pakistan.
A mediator’s corridor
The successful passage was not a result of a broken blockade, but rather a coordinated diplomatic effort. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Iran granted specific approval for this vessel to build trust with Pakistan, which has played a central role in mediating ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran.
The ship utilized a “northern route” hugging the Iranian coastline, a corridor recently designated and regulated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The LNG is being supplied under a direct government-to-government agreement to help Islamabad manage a severe domestic gas shortage caused by the maritime standoff.
The effective closure of the waterway since March has paralyzed nearly one-fifth of the world’s LNG supply, causing price spikes and energy deficits across Asia. Before the war, the Persian Gulf typically saw three LNG shipments per day; the transit of Al Kharaitiyat is the first successful exit after several previous attempts by Qatari tankers were forced to turn back due to security threats.
Strategic pause and tensions
President Donald Trump recently announced a temporary pause in “Project Freedom” – the US naval operation to escort commercial vessels – to allow space for a final peace agreement.
Despite the pause in escorts, the US military blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect, with F/A-18s recently disabling two Iranian tankers attempting to violate the perimeter.
Even as the Qatari ship passed, the IRGC issued new warnings that it would target US military “centers” in the region if its own tankers came under further fire.
While analysts view this single shipment as a positive omen, they caution that the Strait remains a high-risk zone. Qatar’s LNG export capacity has already been reduced by 17% due to Iranian attacks earlier in the war, with some repairs expected to take three to five years to complete.