Second Qatar LNG Ship Successfully Passes through the Strait of Hormuz

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is seeing the first orderly breakthroughs.

According to Reuters, the Qatari LNG tanker Mihzem has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is heading towards the Port of Qasim in Pakistan, expected to arrive on May 12th. This is the second batch of Qatari LNG cargo to successfully pass through the strait since the outbreak of the Iran war.

Two ships in succession mark the preliminary formation of a "special approval channel"

The first ship, Al Kharaitiyat, began crossing through the northern route approved by Iran last Saturday and successfully crossed the strait on Sunday, currently approaching Pakistan. Mihzem followed suit, departing from Qatar's Ras Laffan Port with a cargo volume of 174,000 cubic meters, heading northeast along the same route.

The successive passage of the two ships signifies the emergence of a "special approval channel" in the Strait of Hormuz, distinct from forcing a breakthrough—it relies not on the dangerous operation of turning off tracking signals, but on obtaining Iran's clear permission through diplomatic negotiations.

According to two informed sources, the aforementioned LNG cargo is sold by Qatar to Pakistan under intergovernmental agreements, and Iran approved the passage of these goods with the aim of "establishing mutual trust with Qatar and Pakistan." In the coming days, two more oil tankers carrying Qatari LNG are expected to follow suit, with Pakistan as their destination.

Pakistan: Mediator and beneficiary

In this arrangement, Pakistan plays a dual role—as both a mediator in the U.S.-Iran conflict and a direct beneficiary in desperate need of natural gas.

An informed source told Reuters that Pakistan is facing a severe natural gas shortage, and negotiations with Iran are aimed at seeking permission for a limited number of LNG tankers to pass through the strait. Iran has agreed to cooperate, and both sides are coordinating the secure passage of the first batch of goods, which come from a long-term agreement between Pakistan and its main LNG supplier, Qatar.

Qatar's export capacity severely damaged, with a three to five-year recovery needed

It is noteworthy that the blockade of Hormuz has already dealt a significant blow to Qatar's LNG export capacity. Iran's attacks have idled 17% of Qatar's LNG export capacity, with damaged capacity estimated at 12.8 million tons/year, and the repair work is expected to take three to five years.

Qatar is the world's second-largest LNG exporter, with shipments primarily流向 Asian buyers. The long-term damage to capacity means that the global LNG supply structure will be under pressure for a considerable period.

Turning off tracking signals: Another dangerous path to break through

Not all ships passing through the strait can obtain Iran's clear permission. Reuters points out that the United Arab Emirates National Oil Company (ADNOC) had two LNG tankers force their way across the strait earlier this month with their tracking signals turned off—this approach highlights the high risk and uncertainty of current Hormuz passage, with diplomatic special approval channels running concurrently with dangerous breakouts, painting a true picture of the current strait situation.

Before the war, about three LNG tankers used to leave the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz every day. The passage of the two ships is certainly a positive signal, but whether the "case-by-case approval" model can evolve into a more stable passage mechanism still depends on the direction of U.S.-Iran tensions.