Pakistan Up To Mischief Amidst Middle East Conflict? Iran Ships Head To Karachi Following US Blockade At Hormuz

Islamabad: Amid the ongoing Iran-US conflict in West Asia, news has emerged that raises questions regarding Pakistan. Two ships carrying approximately one million barrels of crude oil from Iran have set their course towards Karachi. This development comes at a time when Pakistan has not officially purchased oil from Iran for nearly a decade; however, significant quantities of Iranian oil do enter Pakistan via land routes. Following the diversion of these two ships towards Karachi, experts are closely watching to see whether Iran intends to offload the oil in Pakistan or transfer it to another vessel. Data revealed by Bloomberg suggests that the likelihood of this oil being offloaded in Pakistan is low, as doing so would increase the risk of Pakistan facing sanctions. Consequently, it is possible that the ships are seeking to enter Pakistani waters to remain safe from the US blockade.

What is Pakistan upto?

According to reports, two tankers named 'Rani' and 'Amil' departed from Iran carrying about one million barrels of crude oil. Both vessels are subject to US sanctions. When the US blockade was reimposed, they became stranded near the Strait of Hormuz; Iran attempted to move them out, but the US blocked the effort. Subsequently, the ships signaled their location as Karachi. A Kpler report confirms that Pakistan has not officially imported Iranian oil in recent decades, making it unlikely that the tankers will discharge their cargo at Karachi Port. These vessels appear to be following a strategy used during the conflict that allowed other Iranian tankers to evade detection. During the US blockade near Hormuz in March and April, several ships had similarly remained on standby near Karachi Port and in the Persian Gulf; once they received clearance to proceed, they quietly sailed toward their destinations.

Were the Ships Owned by Panama and Malaysia?

Although Iran utilizes these vessels for its own benefit, they are primarily owned by entities in Panama and Malaysia. According to a report by Maritime Equasis, the Panama-based 'Starboard Shipping Inc-Pan' owns and manages the tanker 'Rani'. Meanwhile, the 'Amil' is owned by the Malaysia-based 'Ameli Limited', while Hong Kong-based 'Espoir Shipping Limited' manages the vessel.

Experts state that Iran uses these ships to transport crude oil to China. Due to sanctions, the oil is not shipped directly; instead, it is offloaded onto other vessels near Malaysia, thereby completing the trade. Often, these ships switch off their transponders to avoid revealing their location. Operating in this anonymous manner, they transfer the oil to vessels from other countries.

Does Pakistan Import Iranian Oil via Land Routes?

Even though these two ships are currently heading towards Pakistan, Islamabad is not expected to benefit directly, as it has not officially purchased Iranian oil for decades. However, the ground reality differs; a significant portion of Pakistan's energy market relies on Iranian oil obtained through the black market. Iranian oil reaches Pakistan via Balochistan, transported by cars, trucks, and motorcycles, before being distributed to other parts of the country. Pakistan has faced criticism over this issue; however, since the arrangement is mutually beneficial for both Iran and Pakistan, neither country tends to react strongly to it.