Pakistan oil tanker becomes first to exit through Hormuz since US blockade began

Transits through the narrow waterway have been mostly in single digits since US and Israeli strikes began at the end of February and, after a weekend spike, they have returned to those low levels.

A US Navy blockade now requires shipowners to clear both Iranian and American authorities to move oil and other goods from the Persian Gulf to the world.

Though a trio of supertankers laden with non-Iranian crude made it out last week, few others with such cargoes have crossed Hormuz over the past seven weeks, even before US warships closed in.

Even with apparent clearance from Iran for some Pakistan vessels, that makes the Shalamar’s crossing – after just days in the Gulf – even more unusual.