The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards blocked 2 Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers heading towards the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of April 6, requesting the ships to remain in place without giving any explanation.
According to sources, previously, Iran had allowed these ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under an agreement reached with the US last week through an intermediary of Pakistan.
This is part of the agreement negotiated in negotiations led by Pakistan last week," the source said.
Both Al Daayen and Rasheeda ships were off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on the evening of April 6 and had not yet crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
If successfully passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Al Daayen and Rasheeda will be the first ships carrying LNG shipments to pass through this strait since the conflict on this waterway route since the war between the US and Israel with Iran began on February 28.
The conflict killed thousands of people and damaged the economy by pushing oil prices up. The travel of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that transports about 1/5 of global oil and LNG, has been closed due to fighting and retaliatory attacks.
On March 26, US President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to allow 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a gesture of goodwill in negotiations.
Data from Kpler and LSEG analysis companies shows that Qatar's Al Daayen and Rasheeda ships were loaded at the end of February.
These ships were filled with LNG gas from Ras Laffan, Qatar. Ship tracking data shows that the ships moved east towards the Strait of Hormuz but returned on the morning of April 6.
The two ships changed direction signals in the afternoon 6. 4. The Al Daayen ship began signaling Ras Laffan as its destination. Previously, this ship signaled Pakistan as its destination.
The Rasheeda ship switched to signaling "receiving orders" - a general symbol - from Qasim port, in Pakistan. Previously, on April 6, the Al Daayen ship signaled heading towards China.
Kpler data shows that both LNG tankers are controlled by QatarEnergy.
Previously, a Japanese LNG tanker - Sohar LNG - crossed the Strait of Hormuz, the joint owner of Mitsui O.S. K. Lines informed on April 3.
However, the Sohar LNG ship did not carry goods and the company's spokesman declined to disclose when the trip took place or whether there were any related negotiations.
Qatar is the world's second largest LNG exporter, with shipments mainly transported to buyers in Asia. Iranian attacks have paralyzed 17% of Qatar's LNG export capacity, and the repairs are expected to disrupt production of 12.8 million tons of fuel per year for 3-5 years.
