Iran Holds Qatari LNG Tanker Near Oman Amid Energy Shortage Concerns

The Al Areesh LNG tanker, carrying a shipment of Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG), crossed the Strait of Hormuz early Thursday morning, marking its first passage through the waterway in over three weeks. According to tracking data, the vessel halted once it cleared the strait.

A person familiar with the situation reported that Iran had ordered the tanker to hold and not proceed toward Pakistan, its listed destination. The move comes as QatarEnergy invoked force majeure on shipments meant for European and Asian customers earlier this week, raising doubts about fuel availability in those regions.

Pakistan relies heavily on Qatari LNG for its power plants, and any further delays would exacerbate the country's energy shortages. The Pakistani government had attempted to negotiate with Iranian officials to guarantee the safe passage of one Qatari cargo, highlighting the critical importance of timely deliveries.