A Pakistani oil tanker carrying about 80 million liters of crude oil has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Arabian Sea, marking the first such transit by a Pakistani vessel since the strategic waterway was shut following regional hostilities.

The tanker, MT Karachi, has now reached Pakistan’s maritime zone after passing through the Gulf of Oman and is scheduled to berth at Port of Karachi on Wednesday, according to officials.

The passage came after Iran closed the strait in response to attacks by the United States and Israel, heightening tensions in one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

Officials said Iranian authorities granted special permission for the vessel to transit through the strait, allowing it to use Iranian territorial waters during the journey.

The Pakistan Navy provided maritime security to the tanker during its passage through the sensitive corridor to ensure safe navigation.

The vessel departed from Das Island in the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 28.

According to international media reports, payment for the crude oil cargo was made in Chinese currency, underscoring the growing role of alternative settlement arrangements in regional energy trade amid heightened geopolitical tensions.