Ship-tracking data revealed on Friday that a third Qatari LNG tanker was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, heading towards China. A Qatari negotiation team had arrived in Tehran, to assist with a deal ending?the Iran war.

This 'third transit' of a Qatari tanker carrying LNG is nearly two weeks after the first cargo was delivered through the Strait as part of an Iran-Pakistan agreement.

According to LSEG shipping information, the vessel Al Sahla with a 'capacity' of 211.842 cubic meters left Ras Laffan on June 14 and is expected 'to arrive? at China’s Tianjin -LNG terminal. The previous two Qatari LNG tankers to make it through the Strait of Hormuz since U.S.-Israeli airstrikes unleashed the Iran war at the end of February were sold by Qatar to Pakistan under a government-to-government ?deal, according to two people familiar with the matter. According to the people, Iran approved this shipment in order to build trust between?Qatar's and Pakistan's peace talks. A?Qatari negotiation?team, in coordination with the United States, arrived in Tehran on Friday to try and resolve outstanding issues. Qatar is the second largest LNG exporter in the world, and shipments are mainly sent to Asian buyers. The 'attacks from Iran have destroyed 17% of Qatar's LNG capacity, or 12,8?million metric tonnes per year. QatarEnergy CEO and State Minister for Energy Affairs has said that repairs could take up to five years. (Reporting and editing by Marwa Rashed; Barbara Lewis)

(source: Reuters)