Iran Grants Pakistan Passage for 20 Ships Through Hormuz

The Government of Pakistan secured an agreement with Iran to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway largely closed to tanker traffic following a month of strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the deal permits two ships to cross the waterway daily to transport essential supplies of crude oil and fertilizer.

Because the Pakistan National Shipping Corp. had already withdrawn its fleet from the Persian Gulf, Pakistani officials are exploring the chartering and re-flagging of foreign tankers to meet the 20-ship quota. To further support energy security, the Government of Kuwait and Malthurst Petroleum Ltd have pledged to facilitate the lifting of diesel and jet fuel for these vessels.

Pakistan joins India, Malaysia, and Thailand in negotiating bilateral deals with Iran to mitigate global energy supply shocks caused by the ongoing conflict. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the move as a constructive gesture by Iran and a step toward regional stability.