As Asim Munir pitches peace, Iran stops Pakistan’s cargo ship at Strait of Hormuz
Pakistani ship was stopped
According to the statement made by the Iranian Embassy in Kabul, the SELEN container ship could not receive the mandatory approval before passing the strait. Iranian officials said the ship did not comply with established legal procedures required for transit.
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The statement said, “The SELEN container ship was turned back by the Revolutionary Guard Navy due to non-compliance with legal protocols and not being allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”
“The passage of any ship through this waterway requires full coordination with the maritime authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said.
Officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy later confirmed the action and reiterated that all ships must obtain prior permission.
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri stated that the ship was turned back because it did not receive permission to pass through the strait, and added that the ships must now coordinate its transit with Iranian maritime authorities.
Pakistan offers to mediate in Iran-Israel-US war
Pakistan recently came forward with an offer to mediate between Iran, the United States and Israel as tensions escalate in West Asia. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly said that Islamabad will be “ready and honored” to host peace talks if all parties agree, positioning the country as a neutral venue for dialogue. The proposal gained traction after Donald Trump signaled that he was open to third-party facilitation by amplifying the proposal on social media. While Iran denies any direct negotiations with Washington, it has acknowledged that “friendly states”, including Pakistan, have passed messages between the parties; This suggests that back-channel diplomacy continues while official negotiations remain uncertain.
US President met with Pakistani Chief of General Staff Asim Munir
US President Donald Trump met with Pakistan’s army chief earlier this week Asim MunirAs Islamabad steps up efforts to present itself as a mediator in ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian on Monday, according to officials familiar with the developments.
These diplomatic contacts took place at the same time that Trump announced a five-day pause on his threat to target Iran’s power plants. He described his recent relationship with Tehran as “very good and productive” and suggested it could help end the conflict.
However, the White House made it clear that there were no formal negotiations at this stage and warned against interpreting the developments too much. “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the media,” the statement said.
Trump’s posts on Truth Social briefly pushed global oil prices down, but it remains unclear whether Pakistan’s support played a direct role in this move. Experts say the lack of concrete progress and ongoing tensions are making markets and the region uneasy.
Pakistan chooses Islamabad as the venue for talks
Pakistan has suggested Islamabad as a possible location for high-level talks, according to two officials familiar with the matter. Proposed discussions could include senior U.S. officials such as Vice President J.D. Vance, as well as Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and representatives from Iran.
In its official statement after the Sharif-Pezeshkian meeting, Pakistan said that the prime minister informed the Iranian side about Islamabad’s diplomatic assistance and reiterated his desire to support peace efforts. “The Prime Minister shared the diplomatic support efforts of the Pakistani leadership with the Iranian President, while assuring the Iranian leadership that Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in facilitating peace,” the statement said.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz important now?
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most sensitive sea lanes, handling approximately 20% of global oil and gas shipments. Any disruption here tends to ripple across energy markets and shipping lanes around the world.
While regional tensions are escalating following the latest military contacts involving the USA and Israel, the latest intervention indicates that Tehran will be under tighter control.
$2 million toll plan raises risks
Iran also said some ships could face tolls of up to $2 million while crossing the strait, in what officials described as a new assertion of sovereignty.
Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi said the move reflected a change in the way the country manages the waterway.
Boroujerdi said, “Taking 2 million dollars as a transit fee from some ships passing the strait reflects Iran’s power.” he said.
“Since there are costs of war, we naturally need to do this and collect transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Political turmoil in India
This development quickly caused reactions in India’s political circles. Amit Malviya criticized narratives about Pakistan’s diplomatic position.
“So much for the ‘Pakistan brokering peace’ narrative peddled by the usual suspects in India,” he wrote of X.
“Iran reportedly turned away a ship bound for Karachi after failing to obtain permission to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
‘Open to everyone except our enemies’
Previously, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian had signaled that the entrance to the strait would be opened conditionally.
“The illusion of erasing Iran from the map is a sign of desperation against the will of a history-making nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity. The Strait of Hormuz is open to everyone except those who violate our territory. We face crazy threats on the battlefield with determination.”
