The US denied involvement in the rerouting of Qatari LNG tanker "Al Areesh", the
first Qatari LNG vessel to resume transit through the Strait of Hormuz after
more than three weeks. Al Areesh loaded at Ras Laffan in early July and remained
in the Persian Gulf; AIS showed it transit the Strait of Hormuz early Thursday
with Pakistan listed as destination. Vessel-tracking data place the ship near
Muscat and show its ETA to Pakistan pushed from July 31 to Aug. 6. CENTCOM
spokesman Tim Hawkins said US forces did not arrange the course change. A source
said the vessel had received instructions from Iranian authorities to suspend
the voyage to Pakistan.
