Strait of Hormuz Oil & Shipping Intelligence 2026

Operational stability in the Reko Diq mine corridor (Chagai District) is under dual pressure from a mass influx of over 2,000 Pakistani nationals at the Taftan border (~49km from mine) and a new reputational challenge involving the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. The UN body has reportedly issued a communication regarding alleged rights violations specifically at the Reko Diq project X Intelligence. Simultaneously, the government is attempting to counter negative sentiment by inviting Swedish firms to explore mining opportunities 'beyond Reko Diq' Dunya News. Logistics on the primary N-25 supply route are critically compromised. A suicide bomber killed 9 police officers in the Bolan Pass (~474km from mine), a key chokepoint for heavy equipment X Intelligence. Further south in Khuzdar (~427km from mine), BLA insurgents briefly seized government buildings and burned vehicles, demonstrating the capability to hold territory on the main highway X Intelligence. A nationwide fuel price hike of Rs55/liter has triggered panic buying and transport stoppages, compounding the disruption. [Full analysis available for customers]

The security environment in Azerbaijan remains critical following the disruption of an Iranian terror plot targeting strategic energy infrastructure. On March 7, the State Security Service (DTX) announced it neutralized an IRGC-backed cell planning attacks on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, the Israeli embassy, and Jewish community sites in Baku OC Media. This follows the March 5 drone strikes on Nakhchivan International Airport, confirming that regional conflict has spilled over into Azerbaijani territory Reuters. Diplomatic relations with Iran have effectively collapsed. Azerbaijan evacuated its embassy staff from Tehran and consulate staff from Tabriz on March 6 OC Media. The Astara border crossing is currently overwhelmed with third-country nationals (including German, Spanish, and Chinese citizens) evacuating Iran Report.az. Southern airspace near the Iranian border remains closed mezha.net. [Full analysis available for customers]