LNG Tanker Nears Hormuz as US-Iran Deal Raises Hopes for Reopening

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, Disha, has been stuck in the Persian Gulf for over three months. The vessel, under a long-term charter with an Indian state-owned importer, is heading toward the Strait of Hormuz as US and Iran claim to have reached a deal to reopen the waterway.

The tanker picked up its LNG shipment from Qatar's Ras Laffan facility around March 1 but has been unable to exit since. Ship-tracking data shows Disha is north of the United Arab Emirates, nearing Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and gas, has been effectively closed since US and Israeli strikes at the end of February. While a deal to unblock the corridor would ease supply crunches in Europe and Asia, multiple hurdles remain.