Iranian oil tankers divert to Karachi as US reinstates naval blockade

Two Iranian oil tankers carrying a combined 1 million barrels of crude have diverted toward Pakistan's Port of Karachi, according to vessel-tracking data reported by Bloomberg, in a move that underscores the immediate impact of the United States' renewed naval blockade on Iranian shipping.wanaen

The tankers, identified as the "Rani" and "Amil," changed course on Tuesday, the same day the U.S. military began enforcement of the reinstated blockade at 4 p.m. ET. Both vessels had departed the Persian Gulf shortly before American forces resumed maritime restrictions on Iranian ports.axios+1

A Blockade Renewed

The diversion came hours after U.S. Central Command confirmed it had resumed blocking all vessel traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. "U.S. Central Command will begin enforcement of a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and Iranian coastal areas," the Navy said in a statement on Tuesday. "Any vessel suspected of entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture".aspenpublicradio+1

President Trump announced the reimposition of the blockade on Monday via Truth Social, declaring the U.S. would serve as "the guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and demanding a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the waterway. The move effectively tore up a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran signed in June that had briefly reopened Iranian oil exports.axios+2

Pakistan as Safe Harbor

The tankers' choice of Karachi as a destination reflects Pakistan's unique position in the conflict. Since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran began in late February, Pakistan has emerged as a crucial intermediary in the region's energy flows. In March, Pakistan secured an agreement with Iran allowing 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation's tanker "Karachi" became the first non-Iranian vessel to transit the chokepoint with its tracking signal active.al-monitor+2

Pakistan has also served as a transit point for repatriated Iranian sailors from U.S.-seized tankers, with at least four groups of crew members handed over to Iran's consulate in Karachi in recent months.aa+1

Escalation on Multiple Fronts

The blockade's return comes amid a broader resumption of hostilities. On the same day the tankers diverted, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have launched multiple waves of missile and drone strikes against U.S. military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. U.S. forces also struck targets inside Iran, including military barracks and civilian infrastructure in Khuzestan and Ilam provinces.wanaen

The confrontation marks the collapse of what Trump had weeks earlier called a "great deal" with Tehran. The Washington Post News Corp ↘ 3.58% reported that Trump dismissed the June agreement as merely "a test", setting the stage for renewed conflict over control of one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.washingtonpost