Pakistan-bound LNG tanker Al Mayeda was hit near Hormuz hours after Iran cleared its passage, Bloomberg reports
Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, reports that Pakistan had secured Iranian approval for the Qatari LNG carrier Al Mayeda's passage through the Strait of Hormuz only hours before the vessel was struck on Friday, raising fresh questions about the safety of Gulf energy shipments.
The Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier struck near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday had received clearance from Iran for its passage only hours earlier, after Pakistan sought Tehran's approval for the voyage, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged Al Mayeda, was carrying Qatari LNG destined for Pakistan when it was hit by unidentified objects in Gulf waters on the evening of 30 October. Its owner, Qatar Gas Transport Company, known as Nakilat, confirmed on Sunday that the ship had been struck, that no crew member was injured, that there was no environmental damage, and that the vessel remained operational while damage was assessed.
According to Bloomberg's account, Pakistani authorities had contacted Iranian officials about safe passage for the Al Mayeda, as they have done for several Qatari cargoes in recent weeks, and Iranian authorities approved the transit shortly before the attack. The vessel then turned back into the Gulf after being hit, and it remains unclear whether it will attempt the voyage again.
The report does not identify who carried out the attack, and Nakilat's own statement did not name any country or group as responsible. India's shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed separately that the ship was struck in a projectile attack and that all 25 crew members on board, including six Indian seafarers, were safe.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on Sunday, describing it as a threat to maritime navigation and global energy supplies, and said an investigation had been opened. The condemnation underlined how sensitive the incident is for Doha, which is simultaneously acting as a mediator in efforts to end the wider war between the United States, Israel and Iran.
For Pakistan, the episode carries a direct energy risk. The country has leaned on its ties with Tehran to keep Qatari LNG moving through Hormuz at a time when shipments through the strait have fallen to roughly 30 per cent of their pre-war volumes in October. Bloomberg reported that Pakistan had received three Qatari cargoes in October under similar arrangements, all of which reached the Gulf of Oman safely.
If the Al Mayeda's cargo does not reach Pakistan, the country may have to buy a replacement shipment on the international spot market, where prices have reportedly climbed to more than three times their pre-war levels. Reports citing the same Bloomberg account also said QatarEnergy had already told some Pakistani buyers not to expect LNG until the end of the year, although that detail has not been confirmed by the company in its public statements.
The incident also raises an awkward diplomatic question that the reports themselves leave open. The approval for passage was described by sources familiar with the discussions, and neither Pakistan's petroleum ministry, QatarEnergy nor Iran's Foreign Ministry immediately responded to requests for comment in the reporting. Nothing in the official statements so far attributes the attack to Iran, and the fact of prior clearance does not by itself establish who struck the vessel.
The wider context is a waterway under severe strain. Since the war began in February, Iran has sought to assert control over Hormuz shipping, maritime agencies have warned of repeated incidents, and Gulf governments have pressed for a diplomatic route out. In Doha, Qatari mediators have been working on a proposal under which Hormuz could reopen within two days of an agreement with Washington, but Iranian officials have said no final result has yet been reached.
What happens next will depend on the technical assessment of the Al Mayeda, on whether its cargo can still be delivered, and on whether other Pakistan-bound shipments can move safely in the coming days. If even a cleared vessel can be hit, shipping operators, insurers and governments will have to judge whether diplomatic assurances are enough — or whether the risk premium on every Gulf transit has just risen again.
More in Pakistan News
PakistanPakistan reports eighth polio case of 2026 as 13-month-old girl in Khyber tests positive, days before nationwide vaccination drive
PakistanPakistan LPG marketers announce nationwide strike from November 16 over proposed pricing formula, warning of 25-30% price rise
Pakistan