Reuters reported on the 9th (local time) that a carrier loaded with Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) is sailing toward the Strait of Hormuz with Iran's approval.
Citing shipping data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), Reuters said the LNG carrier Al Kharaityat, which departed Ras Laffan, Qatar, for Port Qasim, Pakistan, was moving toward the Strait of Hormuz on the day.
The destination of the carrier is Pakistan, and if this voyage succeeds, it will be the first case of a Qatari LNG carrier passing through the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began at the end of February.
According to sources, the export volume was sold under a government-to-government contract between Pakistan and Qatar. Iran is said to have preapproved the vessel's passage to build trust with Pakistan, which has played a mediating role in cease-fire talks with the United States.
Qatar is the world's No. 2 LNG exporter and has mainly supplied gas to the Asian market. However, after the outbreak of the Iran war, Qatar's LNG facilities suffered major damage from Iranian attacks, and it is expected to take 3 to 5 years to restore production facilities with annual capacity of 12.8 million tons.