Pakistan had negotiated with Iran to secure safe passage for the Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Al Mayeda before the vessel came under a projectile attack near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier was heading towards the strategic waterway with a cargo of Qatari LNG when it was targeted. Iranian authorities were understood to have given the vessel clearance just hours before the attack, the sources said.
Following the incident, Al Mayeda reversed course and sailed back into the Persian Gulf, according to ship-tracking data.
Qatar strongly condemned the incident, with its Foreign Ministry stating on Sunday that the country reserved the right to take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, to protect its assets, vessels and crews. An investigation into the attack and those responsible is under way.
India’s Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed in a post on X that the vessel had been targeted in a projectile attack. All 25 crew members, including six Indian nationals, were reported safe.
Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), which operates the vessel, said Al Mayeda remained operational and was undergoing assessment. The reason behind the attack and whether the vessel would make another attempt to reach its destination remain unclear.
Pakistan has reportedly been engaging with Iranian authorities to secure safe passage for several Qatari LNG shipments over the past month. These diplomatic efforts, supported by Islamabad’s relationship with Tehran and its intermediary role, had enabled other shipments to transit successfully into the Gulf of Oman.
The latest incident highlights the persistent security risks facing commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy transit route. It also presents a fresh challenge for Pakistan, which has been struggling with an energy deficit amid prolonged instability in the Middle East.
The disruption could force Pakistan to seek replacement LNG supplies from the spot market, where prices have reportedly risen to more than three times their pre-conflict levels.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Ministry, QatarEnergy and Iran’s Foreign Ministry had not immediately commented on the incident.
Meanwhile, LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remained at approximately 30% of pre-conflict levels in October. Qatar has continued moving LNG through the waterway since September, including through older vessels that can help limit the additional insurance costs associated with high-risk voyages.
The attack on Al Mayeda underscores the vulnerability of energy supply chains and the growing uncertainty surrounding commercial vessel movements through one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.