Iran says it won’t forget friends as Malaysian vessel sails through Hormuz strait

 Embassy’s statement comes amid reports a Petronas-chartered tanker carrying Iraqi crude has safely made the passage.

Reuters reported that an oil tanker chartered by a Petronas firm, carrying Iraqi crude, had passed through the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast en route to Pengerang, Johor. (Iran Embassy in Malaysia X pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 The first Malaysia-linked vessel has passed through the Strait of Hormuz following tensions in the region, according to the Iranian embassy in Malaysia.

An Iranian embassy X post shared a picture of the purported vessel with the caption, “We had said that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not forget its friends. The first Malaysian ship passed through the Strait of Hormuz.”

While it did not identify the ship, Reuters reported yesterday that an oil tanker chartered by a Petronas firm, carrying Iraqi crude, had passed through the strait near the Iranian coast en route to Pengerang, Johor.

Data from LSEG and Kpler showed that the tanker, Ocean Thunder, had loaded about one million barrels of Basrah Heavy crude on March 2 and is expected to discharge its cargo in mid-April.

The vessel is believed to be among several Malaysia-linked ships cleared by Iran to pass through the strait after earlier tensions that saw the route effectively closed following US and Israeli airstrikes in late February.

The transit came a day after Iran said Iraq was exempt from any restrictions on passage through the vital sea route, which carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

Last month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Iran would allow Malaysian vessels to pass through the strait after holding talks with Iranian officials.

Foreign minister Mohamad Hassan later said seven ships linked to Malaysian companies, including Petronas, Vantris Energy Bhd and MISC Bhd, were awaiting passage through the waterway. - FMT