Iran was fighting a war against the United States, but still waved Pakistani oil ships through its Strait of Hormuz blockade, a rare wartime exemption extended to a fellow Muslim nation it considered friendly. That goodwill, Tehran now believes, was exploited. Intelligence sources say those very ships may have been used in ways that benefited the American side, and Iran is furious.
Tehran has termed Islamabad's conduct a calculated "double game," a damning accusation against a country it had trusted even amid an active war. The charge has emerged from top intelligence sources cited by News 18.
Despite tightening maritime control during the ongoing conflict, Iran had granted limited passage to ships from a handful of friendly nations, including India, China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan. Pakistani-flagged vessels carrying oil were among the few permitted to transit the Strait under this arrangement. Those very ships, according to reports, were used or coordinated in ways that ended up serving the US side, a development Tehran views as a serious betrayal by a fellow Muslim country.
The episode intersects with a claim made by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social, in which he revealed that at least eight oil tankers, possibly Pakistani-flagged, had passed through the Strait as a diplomatic "present" from Iranian negotiators, which he interpreted as a signal that Tehran was serious about keeping talks alive.
Amid the West Asia war, Pakistan has been actively projecting itself as a neutral mediator. It gained significant international recognition in that role after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally offered to host direct US-Iran negotiations, and US envoy Steve Witkoff publicly confirmed that Washington had been channelling its peace proposal to Tehran through Islamabad.
West Asia war: Iran vs US-Israel
The war, which began on February 28, 2026, is now in its fourth week and showing no signs of halting. It is rapidly escalating from a military standoff into a potential global energy crisis, as Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil flows, threatens lasting damage to global energy supply chains.
Over a million volunteers have reportedly signed up for potential ground combat should the conflict escalate further. Young men are rushing to join paramilitary groups such as the Basij and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) across the country, according to Iran's state-linked Tasnim News Agency.
US Deployments
An initial contingent of 1,500 troops from the elite 82nd Airborne Division has already been deployed to the Middle East, joining Marines and other forces already stationed in the region. The Pentagon is separately considering a further deployment of up to 10,000 additional ground troops, amid preparations for possible rapid-response or ground operations.
The relationship between Iran and Pakistan has hit a critical breaking point this week (late March 2026), moving from a fragile mediation effort to open hostility. Tehran has accused Islamabad of a "double game"—claiming that while Pakistan offered to broker peace, it was secretly aiding the American military effort.
Here is the breakdown of the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz:
1. The "Betrayal" Accusation
Iran’s fury centers on a perceived breach of trust regarding maritime passage.
The Intelligence Leak: Reports from high-level sources (cited by News18 and Zee News) suggest that Tehran believes these exempted Pakistani ships were used to gather intelligence or provide logistical coordination that benefited the U.S. Navy.
The "Trump Factor": Diplomatic speculation intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, referring to the passage of certain oil tankers as a "present" from Iranian negotiators—a comment Tehran viewed as proof that their "goodwill" was being used against them.
2. The Turning Back of the SELEN
On March 25, 2026, the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Navy delivered a blunt message by intercepting and turning back the container ship SELEN, which was bound for Karachi.
Official Stance: Iran claimed the vessel lacked "legal protocols" and "mandatory clearance."
Real Message: Analysts view this as a direct puncture of Pakistan’s "peace bubble."
By blocking a ship headed for Pakistan’s primary port, Iran signaled that Islamabad’s role as a mediator is no longer recognized.
3. Pakistan’s Failed Mediation Attempt
Before this fallout, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had positioned Pakistan as the primary bridge between Washington and Tehran.
The 15-Point Plan: Pakistan had delivered a U.S.-backed 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran, which included sanctions relief in exchange for a nuclear rollback and the reopening of the Strait.
The Rejection: Iran’s military command (Khatam al-Anbiya) publicly dismissed the proposal, stating there would be "no news of investments" or "previous energy prices" until the U.S. and its allies are defeated.
4. The Domestic Impact in Pakistan
This geopolitical "double game" has left Pakistan in an incredibly vulnerable position:
Energy Crisis: With 85-90% of its oil transiting the Strait, the closure has forced the government to implement extreme austerity measures, including a 4-day workweek and the closure of educational institutions.
Sectarian Tension: The government faces massive internal pressure, with pro-Iran protests turning violent. A recent attempt to storm the U.S. Consulate in Karachi resulted in multiple casualties.
Summary of the "Double Game" Tension
| Iran's Perspective | Pakistan's Perspective |
| Pakistan used maritime "exemptions" to assist U.S. intelligence. | Pakistan is maintaining "neutrality" to prevent a total regional collapse. |
| Mediation is a "smokescreen" for Saudi-U.S. interests. | Mediation is a "necessity" to save the Pakistani economy from fuel starvation. |
| The Strait is now a permission-based corridor. | The Strait must remain an international transit route. |
Would you like me to look into the current status of the 15-point ceasefire plan or more details on the austerity measures currently active in Pakistan?
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