In a landmark diplomatic victory for Islamabad, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The deal, described by Dar as a “harbinger of peace,” marks the first significant breach in the maritime blockade that has paralyzed global trade since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war on February 28. The agreement comes as oil prices surge past $100 a barrel and maritime traffic through the world’s most critical energy chokepoint remains down by a staggering 90%.
#Iran has agreed to allow an additional 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, with two ships permitted to transit daily, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says. #Pakistan https://t.co/GET8LfmJym
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 29, 2026
The Shipping Arrangement: A Daily Corridor
Under the new protocol, two Pakistani ships will be permitted to cross the strait daily, providing a vital “relief valve” for Pakistan’s domestic energy crisis.
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The Transit Process: To secure passage, vessels must submit cargo details and crew lists to IRGC-approved intermediaries, receive a clearance code, and be escorted through Iranian territorial waters.
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Diplomatic Signaling: Dar pointedly addressed his announcement to top US officials—including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—and Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi, framing the deal as a foundation for broader regional de-escalation.
The High Cost of the “Checkpoint”
Since the effective closure of the waterway following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has transformed the strait into a high-revenue toll zone.
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The “Ransom” Fee: Reports indicate that vessels granted passage have paid up to $2 million per crossing, with settlements being made in Chinese yuan.
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Legitimizing the Toll: The Iranian parliament is currently drafting legislation to permanently codify this authority, a move Emirati Minister Sultan Al Jaber has labeled “economic terrorism.”
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Global Paralysis: Roughly 2,000 vessels remain stranded on either side of the waterway. WTO head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned that global trade is experiencing its “worst disruptions in 80 years.”
Pakistan’s “Mediation Gambit”
The shipping deal is the direct result of a week of high-intensity “shuttle diplomacy” by Islamabad.
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The Military Track: Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir held direct talks with President Donald Trump on Sunday to coordinate de-escalation windows.
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The Civilian Track: FM Ishaq Dar leveraged Pakistan’s 900km border with Iran to secure terms that mirrored a similar agreement recently granted to Malaysia.
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Host City: MOFA spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reiterated that Islamabad remains ready to host formal US-Iran negotiations, which are rumored to be scheduled for later this week.
Trump’s “Window” and the Path Forward
The transit agreement arrives at a critical juncture in the military campaign.
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The Five-Day Pause: President Trump confirmed that Washington has eased strikes on Iranian power plants for a five-day window to allow for diplomatic movement. However, that window closes today, and Israel has maintained that its own strikes will continue regardless.
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“The Strait of Trump”: In a notable gaffe at a Miami investor forum, Trump referred to the waterway as the “Strait of Trump” before correcting himself, highlighting the personal stakes the US administration has in reopening the route.
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