Why the tankers were stopped
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has halted two Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers that had been cleared to transit the Strait of Hormuz under a recent Iran–U.S. arrangement brokered via Pakistan. The vessels, identified as the Al Daayen and the Rasheeda, were told to hold position without any public explanation, even though they were on a pre‑approved list for passage.
A fragile deal on energy flows
Under the nascent deal, Iran was expected to allow limited oil and LNG shipments—mostly to countries seen as relatively neutral—to pass through the Strait, which carries roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG flows. The sudden halt of the Qatar‑flagged LNG ships signals that even these narrow, brokered arrangements remain fragile and subject to last‑minute political and military decisions.
Impact on global LNG markets
Had the tankers successfully crossed, they would have marked the first Qatar‑linked LNG exports through the Strait since the U.S.–Israel war with Iran began in late February and the waterway was effectively shut to most commercial traffic. With transit still blocked or heavily restricted, about 20% of daily global LNG flows remain choked, pushing European and Asian gas prices higher and reinforcing fears that the conflict is turning into a broader energy crisis.
