Pakistan Oil Tankers: Iran Strait Tensions Boost Passage
ISLAMABAD – Oil tankers bound for Pakistan have resumed transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistani government officials confirmed to Nikkei Asia, following a period of heightened disruption linked to escalating tensions between Iran and its adversaries. The passage of these vessels signals a potential easing of immediate energy supply concerns for the import-dependent nation, though the situation remains fluid.
Officials indicated that additional oil tankers are expected to navigate the strategic waterway “in the coming days,” as Pakistan seeks to secure vital energy imports amid a volatile geopolitical landscape. The resumption of traffic follows a period where approximately 90 ships, including oil tankers, have attempted passage since the outbreak of the recent conflict with Iran, according to maritime and trade data platforms.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between Iran and Oman, is a critical artery for global oil transport, supplying roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil. Most shipping lanes lie within Omani territorial waters and are governed by international maritime law, though Iran maintains control over the northern portion of the strait. The waterway’s depth, ranging from 200 to 330 feet, presents challenges to any prolonged disruption of shipping, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The recent increase in tanker traffic comes as U.S. President Donald Trump had previously urged allies to send warships to reopen the strait and lower oil prices, which spiked above $100 a barrel. However, the situation has evolved with some vessels undertaking “dark” transits – evading Western sanctions and oversight – and more recently, successful crossings by ships linked to India and Pakistan, facilitated by diplomatic negotiations.
Whereas most shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted since early March, Iran has reportedly continued to export over 16 million barrels of oil since the beginning of the month, with China as its primary buyer. Analysts at Kpler estimate continued resilience in Iran’s oil export volumes, attributing this to Iran’s ability to leverage its control over the chokepoint for economic and geopolitical gain.
Aurel Braun, a professor of international relations at the University of Toronto, described the selective passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz as a form of geopolitical “ransom,” where Iran leverages its control over the waterway to extract concessions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged that some fuel ships were getting through, noting that Iranian vessels were already being allowed passage and that Indian ships had also successfully crossed.
The situation remains complex, with approximately 20 vessels having been attacked in the area since the start of the conflict. The Pakistani government’s efforts to secure safe passage for its oil tankers underscore the country’s vulnerability to disruptions in energy supplies and its reliance on diplomatic channels to navigate the escalating tensions in the region. No official statement has been released regarding the specific agreements reached with Iran to facilitate these crossings.