Pakistan Oil Tanker ‘Karachi’ Makes Historic Transit Through Blocked Strait of Hormuz
In a rare breach of the near-total maritime blockade gripping the Strait of Hormuz, the Pakistani-flagged Aframax tanker Karachi, operated by the National Shipping Corporation of Pakistan, successfully transited the strategic waterway on Sunday, becoming one of the first non-Iranian vessels to pass openly since the escalation of the US-Israel-Iran conflict in early March.
Shipping data and multiple reports indicate the Karachi sailed with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder active, hugging the Iranian coastline before exiting into the Gulf of Oman. The vessel, reportedly carrying crude oil, is now en route to Karachi port, expected to arrive in the coming days with over 80 million liters of cargo.
This development follows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s public thanks to Pakistan for its diplomatic support against US and Israeli actions. Iranian officials have stated the strait remains “open to all except enemies,” implying selective permissions for friendly or neutral nations. Reports suggest at least three Pakistani tankers have made safe passages in the past 10 days, with some sources citing CNN tracking data on limited non-Western shipping continuing under coordinated arrangements.
The strait, through which roughly 20% of global oil normally flows, has seen traffic plummet from 130–150 vessels per day to near zero since early March, following Iranian declarations of closure and attacks on commercial ships. Most Western and allied tankers remain stranded, diverted, or under US Navy escort consideration, driving Brent crude prices sharply higher.
Pakistan’s successful transit underscores its delicate balancing act in the crisis, maintaining strong ties with Iran while securing vital energy imports. Analysts view the passage as a sign of quiet diplomatic coordination, offering limited relief to Pakistan’s fuel supply chain amid global energy market strain.
No official confirmation has come from Islamabad or Tehran on the exact terms of the transit, but ship-tracking platforms and regional media continue to monitor what could signal cautious, selective reopening for select partners.
