A major liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment from Qatar is attempting a high-risk transit through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially marking the first successful export from the Gulf since the Iran war escalated in late February.

Marine tracking data shows the LNG carrier Al Kharaitiyat advancing toward Pakistan, which has been struggling with worsening gas shortages after cargo deliveries were disrupted earlier this year.

Multiple previous attempts by Qatar to move LNG shipments through Hormuz failed, with tankers forced to turn back amid security concerns and regional tensions. This vessel, however, has progressed farther than earlier ships and is sailing along a northern corridor reportedly approved by Iran, passing near Qeshm and Larak islands.

Shipping signals indicate the tanker is maintaining high speed with no signs of reversing course, raising expectations that energy exports from the region may cautiously resume despite ongoing conflict risks.

A successful delivery would provide much-needed relief for Pakistan’s energy sector, where supply disruptions since early March have intensified power shortages and increased pressure on fuel imports. The shipment is widely viewed as a critical test of whether LNG trade can continue through one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime chokepoints during wartime conditions.