A Qatari LNG tanker is heading towards the Strait of Hormuz bound for Pakistan, with Iran’s approval marking a potential first passage since the war began. This development comes as the United States and Iran show little progress towards ending more than two months of conflict that has rattled global energy markets.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had anticipated Tehran’s response on Friday to a proposal aimed at halting hostilities and opening talks on issues including Iran’s nuclear programme. Yet no word emerged by Saturday, highlighting persistent deadlock between Washington and Tehran.
Rubio met Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Miami that day to stress ongoing cooperation “to deter threats and promote stability and security across the Middle East,” according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. The gathering, first reported by Axios, also included envoy Steve Witkoff.
LSEG shipping data confirms the tanker’s route, which sources describe as an Iranian gesture to build trust with mediators Qatar and Pakistan. The strait, a chokepoint carrying about 20 per cent of the world’s oil according to the International Energy Agency, has seen non-Iranian vessels largely barred since U.S.-Israeli strikes hit Iran on 28 February.
President Donald Trump prepares for a China visit next week amid pressure to resolve the crisis, which has driven Brent crude up 15 per cent since hostilities erupted, Reuters reports. Recent clashes near the strait mark the worst breaches of April’s ceasefire, while the UAE intercepted Iranian missiles and drones on Friday, injuring three.
U.S. forces struck two Iran-linked boats attempting to enter a port, and a CIA assessment suggests the U.S. blockade on Iranian harbours will not inflict severe pain for another four months. A senior intelligence official rejected published “claims” about the analysis.
Trump maintains the truce holds despite Iranian accusations of violations. “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday.
Allies offer muted support. Rubio pressed Italy’s Giorgia Meloni on backing strait access, Germany seeks alignment on curbing Iran’s nuclear aims, and Britain deploys a warship for potential patrols. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 10 entities, including in China and Hong Kong, for aiding Iran’s drone production.
The tanker’s journey provides a tentative sign of easing, but with Trump eyeing Asia, the path to peace remains fraught.