Amid ongoing efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran, Pakistan is facing allegations of undermining American strategic interests by allegedly facilitating alternative trade routes for Tehran. Defence analysts claim that Islamabad’s recent moves could weaken Washington’s broader sanctions strategy against Iran.
According to Derek J. Grossman, a defence expert with the US Department of Defense, Pakistan has reportedly proposed six special land routes aimed at helping Iran maintain its trade flow despite restrictions imposed by the United States. These routes are said to bypass key maritime chokepoints, including the Hormuz Strait region, which has been under heightened American pressure.
The United States, under the Trump administration’s policy framework, has been intensifying economic pressure on Iran with the objective of compelling it to return to nuclear negotiations. As part of this strategy, Washington has targeted Iranian ports and maritime access, significantly impacting the country’s external trade operations.
However, reports suggesting that Pakistan may assist Iran in establishing alternative corridors have raised concerns in Washington. These routes are believed to potentially enable Iran to continue exporting oil and other goods to countries such as China and Russia. Unverified reports also indicate that nearly 3,000 trucks could be prepared for movement through these proposed routes.
The development has sparked geopolitical debate, with Pakistan being accused of maintaining a dual diplomatic stance by engaging both the United States and Iran. While Israel has alleged that Islamabad is indirectly supporting Tehran, Iran reportedly suspects Pakistan of aligning with US interests. Defence experts warn that any revival of Iranian trade through such channels could dilute the effectiveness of existing US sanctions, although there has been no official response from American authorities on these claims so far.