Al Areesh Exits Hormuz With Transponders Active On July 30 After Idling For Weeks In Persian Gulf; First QatarEnergy-Controlled Tanker To Clear Strait Since July 7 Strike On Al Rekayyat
According to Bloomberg, Pakistan has negotiated with Iran to secure safe passage for at least one Qatari liquefied natural gas shipment, the latest effort by the South Asian nation to use its diplomatic ties to ease a deepening energy crunch.
The Al Areesh which had been idling in the Persian Gulf since loading cargo at Qatar’s Ras Laffan export terminal in early July, transited the Strait of Hormuz early on July 30, with its transponders switched on, and is now signalling Pakistan as its destination. Ship-tracking data shows it is heading to Port Qasim with an estimated arrival of July 31.
This is the first QatarEnergy-controlled LNG tanker to clear Hormuz since the Al Rekayyat was struck by a projectile near the Omani coast around July 7, prompting a pause in shipments. Pakistan had purchased a shipment for late July at approximately $21.88 per million British thermal units; its highest price since 2022, as the Strait of Hormuz closure has choked global LNG supply.
Pakistan appears to have benefited from its role as a key mediator in US-Iran war talks, using close ties with Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United States and China to provide a communication channel between the parties.
Pakistan’s diplomacy is becoming an energy lifeline. Every cargo through Hormuz is both a kilowatt saved and a signal sent. Check out our previous coverage of Pakistan’s energy sector on The Trusted Times.
