Media: Pakistan turns to Iran to unlock vital Qatari LNG supply route

Pakistan has held talks with Iran to secure safe passage for at least one liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment from Qatar, according to people familiar with the matter, as Islamabad seeks to leverage its diplomatic ties to ease a worsening energy crisis.

The Al Areesh, which had been anchored in the Persian Gulf since loading its cargo at Qatar’s Ras Laffan export terminal in early July, passed through the Strait of Hormuz early Thursday, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The vessel crossed the strategic waterway with its transponders active and is now showing Pakistan as its final destination.

Since the outbreak of the war, Pakistan has faced severe fuel shortages and has relied on its diplomatic ties to help mediate between the United States and Iran. Earlier this year, Islamabad used those channels to secure Tehran’s approval for the safe passage of several LNG shipments.

However, the latest escalation in hostilities, including an Iranian strike on a Qatari LNG tanker, effectively disrupted deliveries to Pakistan. The country depends heavily on Qatar for its energy supplies, and cancelled cargoes have contributed to widespread power cuts in some areas.

Since the conflict began in late February, Pakistan has spent more than $400 million purchasing LNG from spot markets to compensate for the loss of supplies from Qatar, its largest LNG provider.

By Jeyhun Aghazada