Qatari LNG tanker attacked in Hormuz en route to Pakistan

The Qatari gas tanker 'Al Maida' was attacked in the Arabian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship, which was carrying gas to Pakistan, had received permission from Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the attack has raised new questions about the incident.

According to a report by US media outlet Bloomberg, the tanker was heading towards Pakistan carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar. Pakistan had previously contacted Iranian officials through diplomatic channels to obtain permission to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Citing relevant sources, the report said that Tehran had given the tanker the green light to pass through the Strait of Hormuz a few hours before the incident. However, even after receiving permission, the ship was attacked. Later, it changed course and turned back in the opposite direction.

Qatar's state-owned gas supplier said on Saturday that one of its tankers in the Arabian Gulf had been attacked. The ship, which is owned by Qatar but is flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was carrying gas from Qatar to Pakistan, a source familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that a total of 25 crew members, including six Indians, were on board the tanker at the time of the attack. He said all of them were safe. He did not give details about the nature of the attack or the damage.

The Bloomberg report said that Pakistani authorities had coordinated with Iran in advance to ensure the safe passage of the ship. Even so, it is still unclear why the tanker was attacked. There is no definitive information about who was behind the attack and under what circumstances the incident occurred.

The report also said that last month, Pakistan, in coordination with Iran, had brought several gas tankers from Qatar through the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman. As a result, this time, the attack on the tanker despite permission has become particularly significant.

There has been no official comment from the Pakistani and Iranian governments on the matter so far. The energy ministries of both countries have also remained silent on the incident.