ISLAMABAD
\nA Pakistani-flagged tanker has become the latest vessel to navigate the Strait of Hormuz by sailing closely along the Iranian coastline, indicating that vessels may now require Tehran\u2019s approval for safe passage through the world\u2019s most critical oil chokepoint amid escalating regional tensions.
\nThe US-Israeli war on Iran is in its third week, with at least 2,000 people dead and no end in sight.
\nThe Strait of Hormuz \u2014 which carries 20% of the world\u2019s oil and liquefied natural gas \u2014 remains largely closed off, with US allies rebuffing President Donald Trump\u2019s request for help to reopen the critical waterway, spiking energy prices and fears of inflation around the world.
\nAccording to vessel-tracking data, the Pakistani-flagged Karachi sailed through a narrow gap between the two Iranian islands of Larak and Qeshm with open signals on Sunday, before tracking the coast into the Gulf of Oman. Meanwhile, two bulk carriers took the same route on Monday morning, openly signalling that they were transiting through the chokepoint even as other ships prefer to switch off transponders for safety.
\nTwo India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tankers also transit the strait in the early hours of Saturday, while a Gambia-flagged general cargo ship just exited the waterway on Tuesday. \u201cSporadic signals placed the three vessels near Larak, but the full route could not be determined because of electronic interference that scrambles information coming from vessels in the region,\u201d the publication reported.
\nHarrison Pr\u00e9tat, deputy director and fellow with the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, believes that if the route continues to be used successfully, it could mean a traffic control system is being imposed by Iran. \u201cThat could mean Tehran attacks vessels or uses mines on the traditional route \u2014 while maintaining a free channel for friendly tankers on the other side,\u201d the publication stated.
\nSince US and Israeli attacks began more than two weeks ago, Iran has targeted several vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, effectively restricting traffic through the critical waterway. The disruption has left some ships stranded inside the Persian Gulf while others have been unable to enter, creating an unprecedented shock to energy trade. \u201cThis creates a system in which the Strait is not formally closed, yet transit increasingly depends on political understandings with Tehran,\u201d analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co, including Natasha Kaneva, said in a note.
\nUnder normal conditions, vessels rarely sail so close to Iran due to security concerns. Standard navigation routes also direct ships exiting the strait towards the opposite side of the channel, although at least one vessel using the traditional path was attacked last week. \u201cWe could be seeing the start of a verification process by Iran, whereby ships must be approved to transit via the Strait of Hormuz by calling between Larak and Qeshm,\u201d said Martin Kelly. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD A Pakistani-flagged tanker has become the latest vessel to navigate the Strait of Hormuz by sailing closely along the Iranian coastline, indicating that vessels may now require Tehran\u2019s approval for safe passage through the world\u2019s most critical oil chokepoint amid escalating regional tensions. The US-Israeli war on Iran is in its third week, with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-537133","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n