Iran Grants Passage to 20 Pakistani Ships Amid Regional Conflict
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, announced the development late Saturday night, March 28, 2026, via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Under the new agreement, two ships will be permitted to cross the strait daily, a move Dar hailed as a constructive step toward regional stability and a "harbinger of peace" during a period of intense global energy volatility.
The announcement follows a high-level telephone conversation between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The two leaders discussed potential mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran to de-escalate the ongoing war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Since the conflict began a month ago, the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for global oil and LNG supplies—has been largely closed to commercial traffic, leading to a severe international energy crisis.
Pakistan, alongside Turkey and Egypt, is currently positioned as a key mediator working to broker a ceasefire. This concession by Tehran is seen as a reward for Islamabad’s diplomatic neutrality and its active role in facilitating peace talks. Analysts suggest that the safe passage of these vessels, which include tankers carrying essential fuel for Pakistan, could serve as a template for reopening the waterway to other non-combatant nations, potentially easing the global spike in fuel prices.
