ChainThink reports that on March 16, according to vessel tracking data, the Aframax tanker named "Karachi" has successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is currently en route to Pakistan. It is one of the few tankers to have departed the Persian Gulf since the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
Data shows that the tanker, controlled by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, passed through a shipping lane near the Iranian coast last Sunday and has now appeared in waters near Sohar. Vessels recently transiting the strait have generally chosen to navigate closer to the Iranian side to reduce risk.
Due to escalating regional tensions, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for approximately 20% of global crude oil transport, nearly came to a halt, and countries are closely monitoring whether vessels will resume passage. Meanwhile, some nations have negotiated transit arrangements with Tehran; for example, India has been granted permission for two LPG tankers to pass through the strait.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the Strait of Hormuz has not been fully closed, but is "closed only to vessels from hostile countries." Iran's new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said Tehran will still retain the strategic leverage of "closing the strait."
The Middle East conflict has entered its third week, with shipping risks in the strait continuing to rise. Trump has called on multiple countries to deploy warships to escort commercial vessels and restore passage, but allies such as Japan have not yet indicated participation. Industry experts believe that even if the situation eases, it may take several weeks for strait shipping to fully resume.