Pakistan Seeks Saudi Oil Route via Yanbu After Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz
By Zeeshan Naseem :
Pakistan on Wednesday requested an alternative oil supply route through Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu after Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that threatens a significant portion of global energy flows.
The request was made by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, according to a statement issued by the Petroleum Division.
Seeking Supply Continuity
Malik briefed the ambassador on the rapidly evolving regional situation and its implications for international energy markets, noting that most of Pakistan’s oil and energy imports typically transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the government was monitoring developments on a daily basis and taking proactive measures to ensure continuity in the country’s energy supply chain.
Support from friendly countries particularly Saudi Arabia was critical in the current circumstances, the minister added.
Saudi Assurances
According to Malik, Saudi authorities assured Pakistan that oil supplies could be facilitated through the Red Sea port of Yanbu to meet the country’s needs.
He said Saudi Arabia was already extending practical support and that one vessel had been assured dispatch from Pakistan to Yanbu for lifting crude oil. The minister expressed hope that shipments from Yanbu would be prioritised for Pakistan.
Malik thanked the Kingdom for its continued cooperation, saying Islamabad deeply valued Riyadh’s assistance during the ongoing crisis.
For his part, the Saudi ambassador reaffirmed that the Kingdom stood firmly with Pakistan to meet any emergency energy requirements, describing the two countries as brotherly nations committed to mutual support, particularly in challenging times.
Iran’s Warning
The move comes after a senior official of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessel attempting to transit the waterway would be targeted in retaliation for the recent United States-Israel strikes.
Iranian state media quoted Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the Guards’ commander-in-chief, as saying that Revolutionary Guard and naval forces would attack ships seeking passage.
The statement marked Tehran’s clearest warning yet after signalling its intention to block the key export route a step that risks disrupting a major share of global oil supplies and driving crude prices sharply higher.
A Critical Global Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz is widely regarded as the world’s most vital oil export corridor, connecting major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil consumption passes through the narrow waterway, which at its tightest point measures about 33 kilometres across.
By announcing its closure, Tehran has acted on long-standing threats to block the strategic passage in response to military action against the Islamic Republic, further escalating tensions in an already volatile region.
About Author
