In retaliation to the U.S.-Israel combine’s attack, Iran has shut down shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. How long can India’s fuel stocks last if supply disruptions are prolonged? And how much more can fuel cost for India if oil tankers avoid the strait?

The oil market has calmed after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would insure tankers and provide naval escorts if necessary.

The Greek Fire Service has taken delivery of five new 20,000-liter water tanker vehicles, enhancing its fleet for firefighting operations.

Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out the first attack on its 'shadow fleet' of LNG tankers, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict.

Performance Shipping Inc. (PSHG) is expanding its fleet by signing contracts for the construction of two 158,000 dwt Suezmax tankers.

An Iranian military official threatened to "set on fire" ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route.

The president has said the U.S. could give military escorts to oil tankers in the region to ease the strain on global energy supplies

“I put Israel under pressure” +++ Trump offers escort for oil tankers +++ Building of the Iranian Council of Experts hit +++ all developments in the live blog

STORY - The first three days of war in Iran have already caused hundreds of deaths, including Ayatollah Khamenei. A look back at 72 hours that could shake the world's balance.

War risk shock: Insurers pull back as tankers pile up off Fujairah  Khaleej Times

A naval vessel sails through the Strait of Hormuz on March 1. Photo by Sahar AL ATTAR/AFP via Getty Images Fighting between the US, Israel, and Iran is affecting vessels near the strategic Strait of…

The announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz is significantly affecting global shipping and energy flows, with tankers reportedly turning back.

A recent railway accident near Prahovo, where four tankers carrying sulfuric acid derailed, has brought renewed focus on the safety of transporting dangerous materials by rail.

The IRS allowed one of the world’s largest exporters of natural gas to claim its heavily polluting tankers are low-emissions “motorboats,” the company said.

Iran Rushes To Load Oil Onto Ships In Anticipation Of US Strikes Via Middle East Eye Iran is loading almost three times the amount of oil it normally does onto tankers in the Persian…

Nordic American Tankers has declared a dividend of $0.17 per share.

Russia-linked oil tankers Rigel, Hyperion and Kousai tracked carrying sanctioned crude worth $55 million through British waters, according to reports.

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions on four individuals, several entities, and oil tankers linked to Iran, according to an announcement on its website.

A serious water main burst occurred on Małopolska Street in Szczecin, Poland, leaving residents in surrounding homes without water, who are now relying on water tankers.

Daily rates for supertankers have surpassed $200,000, driven by a global scramble for available tonnage, with Greek shipowners playing a prominent role in the market.

Four tankers carrying sulphuric acid overturned on a railway track near Prahovo station in Serbia early Sunday morning.

The United States is intensifying efforts to deter the smuggling of illicit oil by a 'shadow fleet,' facing challenges as even large tankers employ various methods to hide their activities.

Okeanis Eco Tankers projects a fleet-wide Q1 daily TCE of $94,800, focusing on the spot market while expanding its Suezmax fleet.

Anti-drone netting covering tanks at an oil depot in Velikiye Luki, Russia. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor Ukraine carried out a long-range drone attack against a Russian oil depot on Wednesday night. A Ukrainian security source said anti-drone netting at the facility failed to stop the attack. Anti-drone netting has emerged as a common makeshift defense tactic on and off the battlefield. Ukrainian drones struck a Russian oil depot overnight, breaking through the netting that had been installed earlier to protect the site from such attacks, a security official told Business Insider on Thursday. Long-range Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in Velikiye Luki, a city in western Russia's Pskov region, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said. They were only authorized to speak on the condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The source said protective anti-drone nets had been stretched above fuel tanks at the oil depot. The facility belongs to the company Pskovnefteproduct and is located nearly 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the Ukrainian border. The nets were unable to prevent the strike from doing damage, the source added. Satellite imagery captured in December by US spatial intelligence firm Vantor and analyzed by Business Insider, shows what appears to be anti-drone netting covering roughly 15 tanks at the depot in Velikiye Luki. Anti-drone netting is seen in this December 14, 2025, image of storage tanks at Velikiye Luki. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor Anti-drone netting covering tanks at an oil depot in Velikiye Luki, Russia. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor Several explosions and a large fire were reported at the oil facility, the source said, citing local channels on the Telegram messaging app. Video footage shared on social media shows a massive blaze burning through a structure resembling anti-drone netting. This kind of netting has been spotted at other oil facilities in Russia in recent months. The tactic underscores how the country is turning to crude-looking, improvised defenses to protect energy infrastructure from ongoing Ukrainian attacks. "Vietnam, run!" - overnight, drones from the Special Operations Center "Alpha" of the Security Service of Ukraine successfully struck the Velikolukskaya oil depot. A large fire broke out at the site. Anti-drone nets had been stretched over the fuel storage tanks, but they did not… pic.twitter.com/bLBxuHNxtm — WarTranslated (@wartranslated) February 19, 2026 Concerns over the high drone saturation have led to similar measures on the battlefield. Anti-drone netting is common near the front lines. Ukrainian soldiers are using this material to cover critical logistics routes. And both militaries have added cage-like fencing to their armored vehicles to protect against drones. Additionally, Russia has also installed makeshift defenses, such as large, floating barriers, to protect its ports from the Ukrainian naval drones that have wreaked havoc on its Black Sea Fleet. The Ukrainian attack on Wednesday night marked Kyiv's latest deep-strike drone operation against the vast Russian energy sector, a major source of revenue that fuels Moscow's ongoing war efforts. "The SBU continues to work methodically on facilities that provide the Russian army with fuel," the security source said in a translated statement. "The destruction of oil depots directly affects the enemy's ability to conduct combat operations, advance and transfer reserves. Such operations are an element of the systematic weakening of the military potential of the Russian Federation," they added. Anti-drone netting has become increasingly common near the front lines in Ukraine. Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images Neither Russia's defense ministry nor its US embassy responded to a request for comment on the attack. Moscow said its air defenses shot down roughly 300 Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours. Since last August, Ukraine has been intensifying its long-range drone attacks on Russia's energy sector, targeting oil refineries, terminals, tankers, and platforms at sea. Kyiv has described the deep-strike campaign as its way of imposing "long-range sanctions" on Moscow. Many of these attacks — at least four in the past week, including the most recent strike — have been carried out by the SBU's Alpha group, an elite unit considered to be among the best of Ukraine's special forces. Its personnel have also been involved in ground operations. Meanwhile, Russia has significantly stepped up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure this winter compared to previous years of the war. Since October, Ukrainian energy facilities have been the main target of Russian barrages, Britain's defense ministry said on Thursday. Russia has launched more than 20,000 drones, and its aircraft have fired over 300 missiles, "in attempts to systematically destroy Ukraine's electrical grid and heat generation capacity," the ministry said in an intelligence update. Read the original article on Business Insider

Sprott has announced a dividend of $0.40, providing returns to its shareholders.

The Golden State Warriors, currently eighth in the West and 'desperately trying to win,' are not among the NBA's tanking teams but could still benefit from the league-wide trend.

India has seized sanctioned shadow fleet tankers, a move that comes amid a trade thaw with the U.S.

India has seized sanctioned shadow fleet tankers, a move that comes amidst a thawing of trade relations with the United States.

India Seizes Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tankers Amid Trade Thaw With U.S.  The Wall Street Journal

India has seized sanctioned shadow fleet tankers, a move occurring amidst a thawing of trade relations with the United States.

India has seized tankers linked to Iran that were under US sanctions, indicating increased surveillance and enforcement actions against illicit shipping.

Amid the Middle East conflict, Iran has been targeting key energy infrastructure and threatening tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to increased oil and gas prices and potential benefits for Russia.

Iranian attacks on regional refineries and gas plants, as well as oil tankers, are strengthening fears regarding global energy supply. Economic powers

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz. It is a vital shipping route for oil and gas.

The US has relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from military bases in southern Spain.

US Navy 'will begin escorting' oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway, if necessary, Trump says.

Donald Trump made a statement on the price of oil, amidst US attacks on Iran. Trump on oil: When we're done, prices will be lower than before - The...

Exploding drone boats have reportedly entered the Middle East conflict, with Oman stating one hit the Skylight oil tanker in a fatal blow.

Insurance companies are cancelling war risk coverage for vessels in the Gulf as the widening Iran conflict disrupted shipping, leaving at least four tankers damaged, a seafarer killed and 150 ships…

Euroholdings Ltd., controlled by the Latsis family, is expanding its operations in the product tanker market.

Waiting for Hormuz, More Oil Tankers Gather in the Persian Gulf  Bloomberg

More LNG Tankers Divert From Hormuz in Widening Iran Crisis  Bloomberg

The Revolutionary Guards confirmed that they hit three American and British tankers with a ballistic missile in the Strait of Hormuz, while approximately 150 tankers are waiting outside the Strait,...

Three tankers damaged in Gulf and one seafarer killed as US-Iran conflict escalates  Reuters

Numerous tankers are gathering both at the entrance to and exit from the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged for the modernization of European legislation to enable not only the detention but also the confiscation of tankers transporting Russian oil, targeting the 'shadow fleet'.

Spot freight rates for supertankers (VLCCs) are breaking period records, with China identified as the primary driving force behind the surge.

Maritime traffic, particularly oil tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly decreased by 20-25% following recent US-Israeli attacks on Iran, with many vessels altering course or turning back.

An article discusses the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as the 'most dangerous passage in the world' due to its narrow width and the volume of oil tankers passing through it daily, referencing its history from the 'tanker war' to the present.

Freight railway traffic between Serbia and Hungary was established today on the Belgrade – Budapest high-speed railway, announced Serbian Railways Infrastructure.

Capital Tankers, part of the group led by Vangelis Marinakis, is set to list on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company, with assets valued at approximately 13.4 billion dollars, is… Capital Tankers eyes Oslo Stock Exchange listing - Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ

Ammonia-carrying tankers have reportedly derailed near Kobišnica, close to Negotin in Serbia.

Euroholdings Ltd., controlled by the Latsis family, is reportedly planning a new expansion into the product tanker market.

JANAF announced it will receive eight tankers of non-Russian oil for MOL by April, reinforcing its role in ensuring energy supply security for EU partners.

Capital Tankers, a company owned by Vangelis Marinakis, is preparing for an initial public offering on the Oslo Stock Exchange with the goal of raising $345 million.

Russia is increasingly utilizing larger oil tankers to facilitate its growing oil exports to China.

In the last year, the number of oil tankers and other commercial ships abandoned by their owning companies has significantly increased worldwide. What is the reason behind this and how does it affect the pr

Analysts have provided insights on energy companies such as Teekay Tankers (TNK), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Infinity Natural Resources, Inc. Class A (INR), Obsidian Energy (OBE), and Cenovus Energy (CVE).

Teekay Tankers has released its earnings transcript for the fourth quarter of 2025, detailing the company's financial performance.

China's unprecedented oil stockpiling has raised questions about whether Beijing is preparing for war, with analysts noting a significant increase in reserves over recent years.

India Seizes Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tankers Amid Trade Thaw With U.S.  The Wall Street Journal

India Seizes Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tankers Amid Trade Thaw With U.S.  The Wall Street Journal

India Seizes Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tankers Amid Trade Thaw With U.S.  The Wall Street Journal

A Venezuelan-Like Oil Blockade Against Iran Could Enable The US To Divide-And-Rule RIC Authored by Andrew Korybko, The cascading consequences of such a blockade, which might not ultimately be imposed due it entailing a high risk of war with Iran, could simultaneously weaken Russia, India, and China. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump 2.0 is considering imposing a Venezuelan-like oil blockade against Iran. It hasn’t yet done so due to concerns that Iran might attack the US’ regional military assets and/or seize its Gulf allies’ oil tankers, with either scenario destabilizing the global oil market and spiking the risk of war, so it might never ultimately happen. If the US were to successfully impose such a blockade, however, then it might be able to adroitly divide-and-rule Russia, India, and China (RIC). “The US Wants To Replicate The Venezuelan Model In Iran” by coercing Iran into subordinating itself and its energy industry to the US. The “Trump Doctrine”, which is shaped by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby’s “Strategy of Denial”, seeks to deny strategic resources to the US’ rivals. Accordingly, it has an interest in cutting off China’s average import of 1.38 million barrels of Iranian oil per day last year, which could hit its economy hard if they’re not replaced (and that might be difficult). These exports could then be redirected to India, thus enabling India to more than replace its average import of 1 million barrels per day of Russian oil last month, with the revenue placed in an escrow account per the Venezuelan precedent for release to Iran if it cuts a nuclear and missile deal with the US. Through these means, India could zero out its import of Russian oil while raising the US’ role over its energy security exactly as Trump 2.0 wants, with the end result dealing incredible harm to RIC. Russia’s budgetary revenue from such sales would be reduced and could only realistically be replaced in part through more sales to China, though that might not be as easy as it sounds. The UK is preparing a campaign to seize Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the English Channel after being emboldened by the US’ seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker near its coast. If Russia doesn’t impose unacceptable costs on the UK, and it didn’t impose any on the US for doing this, then its Baltic Sea tankers might never reach China. Those from the Black Sea might not reach it either if the UK allies with Greece and Cyprus to cut off Russia’s “shadow fleet” from that vector too. Pipeline exports, which have limits to how much they can be scaled, would then be the only means for replacing part of Russia’s lost oil exports to India with China apart from relatively minimal tanker exports from the Far East. The resultant economic pressure on Russia and China might make them susceptible to lopsided deals with the US on Ukraine and trade. As for India, it already entered into a partially lopsided deal with the US as regards the informal quid pro quo of it agreeing to zero out its import of Russian oil in exchange for their trade deal, and the US’ growing influence over India’s energy security could curtail its hard-earned strategic autonomy. This might then be leveraged for coercing a reduction in India’s purchase of Chinese goods and services so as to place more pressure on the People’s Republic to agree to its own lopsided trade deal with the US. This worst-case scenario of the US’ dividing-and-ruling RIC can be averted by Iran deterring or breaking a US blockade on its oil in parallel with Russia doing the same with respect to any British one against its “shadow fleet”. These options require immense political will since they entail the potential cost of a hot war breaking out between Great Powers so it’s unclear whether they’ll be implemented, but likewise, so too might the US and UK ultimately back off from their possible blockades for the same reason. Tyler Durden Mon, 02/16/2026 - 20:05

A Huge Bet on Supertankers Reverberates Through the Oil Market  Bloomberg.com

Israel launches new strikes as Iran squeezes key oil shipping route  Dhaka Tribune

Trump said the US International Development Finance Corporation would offer insurance "at a very reasonable price" to help ensure the flow of energy.

Former US President Trump has suggested that the United States should offer insurance and provide navy escorts for tankers operating in the Persian Gulf, amidst regional tensions.

Trump says US navy could escort tankers through Hormuz Strait  standardmedia.co.ke

Trump says U.S. Navy will escort tankers through key Hormuz. That couldn’t come soon enough for strained Middle Eastern storage facilities and looming production cuts.

At least four tankers have been struck by drones and maritime traffic has dropped by 80%, reports say Iran has effectively closed the strait of Hormuz to oil and gas exports for the past four days…

Against the backdrop of explosive developments in the Middle East, the shipping market has already begun to price in the crisis scenario at very high levels. Tanker freight rates and values became a 'rocket'...

Iranian retaliation aimed at Arab countries also affected tankers and oil infrastructure.

Long queues of cars have been forming since the early morning hours at gas stations across Attica, following the outbreak of war and the trapping of hundreds of tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Following the US-Israeli attack on Iran and their response, hundreds of tankers are waiting in front of the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the leading routes for global oil trade.

Qatar strongly condemned Iranian strikes targeting the commercial port of Duqm and an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, describing the attacks as a violation of Omani sovereignty and… (The post Majed…

Vor der Straße von Hormus stauen sich mindestens 150 Frachtschiffe, darunter viele Öl- und Gastanker. Irans Hauptstadt Teheran ist von einer großen Explosion erschüttert worden.

Oil prices are anticipated to rise by up to 37% as tankers reportedly avoid the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Asian nations to assess their oil inventories.

An analyst has increased the price target for Nordic American Tankers (NAT) following the company's recent earnings report.

Oil and gas tankers are increasingly avoiding the Hormuz shipping strait that links the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the open seas after the US and Israel bombed Iran.

The United States is building up military assets near the Middle East, so it is ready to strike Iran as soon as Saturday, according to reports.

Capital Tankers Corp. has completed the largest-ever public offering for a shipping company on the Oslo Stock Exchange, marking a historic IPO.

Top Ships Inc. and Rubico Inc., both associated with Evangelos Pistiolis, have finalized an agreement for the construction of 10 MR tankers, a deal that includes new fleet development, Chinese financing, and long-term charters.

Scorpio Tankers announced a net cash position of $334 million, drawing significant attention on Reddit where it is being discussed in the context of a 'war bet'.

Nordic American Tankers announced its GAAP EPS of $0.06 and revenue of $21.16 million for the fourth quarter.

Washington has imposed a new series of economic sanctions targeting Iranian individuals, companies, and oil tankers, aiming to reduce Tehran's revenue ahead of nuclear talks in Geneva.

The world’s largest charterers have launched a “rally” to secure free tonnage for the 300,000-ton supertankers that carry 2 million barrels of crude. Supertankers break the 200,000 per day barrier – Greek shipowners lead the way - Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ

Top Ships Inc. and Rubico Inc., controlled by Evangelos Pistiolis, have finalized a deal for the construction of 10 modern MR tankers, backed by Chinese financing and long-term charters.

Russia is reportedly placing security agents, often former GRU or commando personnel, on its 'ghost fleet' oil tankers to monitor crews and gather operational data, as seen on a tanker seized by France.

The United States is accelerating efforts to deter the smuggling of illicit oil, facing challenges in tracking hidden tankers.

Danish Navy Intercepts, Detains Iran-Flagged Cargo Ship Denmark detained a container vessel previously blacklisted by Washington under last year's sweeping Iran sanctions on Thursday, amid suspicions it was operating under a false flag. The Nora was seized after authorities determined it was allegedly sailing under the flag of Comoros without authorization. The ship is now anchored in Danish waters pending further investigation, according to reports. It actually appears to be a box ship transporting containers at the time it was intercepted. It raised the Iranian flag under deeply suspicious circumstances, as a patrol boat eyed the vessel, Danish officials say. AFP via Getty Images The Danish Maritime Authority believes it to be part of Iran's so-called shadow fleet of tankers. "The Danish Maritime Authority reports that the vessel has been detained due to incorrect registration," the agency said. Several months ago the vessel went through a name change, which Washington officials believe was in order to keep shipping sanctioned Iranian and Russian exports, and to evade European suspicions while traversing regional waters. The vessel is said to currently anchored east of Albaek in the northernmost part of Jutland. It's possible the vessel will eventually be released, as the Danish government explained the ship will be detained until Iran confirms to the agency that the container ship is legitimately registered and certified. According to more details via a maritime monitoring publication: Denmark’s TV 2 reports the vessel had gone dark while it was in St. Petersburg, Russia, in mid-January and then sailed west into the Baltic and reached Skagen, where it stopped on January 22. The following day, it anchored less than 20 miles east of Aalbaek, Denmark, where it has remained for the past 28 days. A Danish patrol ship was spotted near the vessel along with a Danish Armed Forces sea drone. The Danish Maritime Authority reports it questioned the vessel’s registry in Comoros and was informed by the authorities that the ship was “not correctly registered.” Apparently, when they questioned the vessel further, it suddenly raised an Iranian flag, prompting the detention. Danish outlet TV 2 further reports that the Cerus/Nora had transited Danish waters at least 10 times over the past year during repeated voyages to Saint Petersburg - and each time the vessel allegedly went dark, ceasing transmission of its position data as it neared Russian waters. BREAKING: Danish authorities have detained the 226-meter container ship Nora, now flying the Iranian flag, east of Aalbæk, after it was found not properly registered with its claimed flag state. Previously sailing under the Comorian flag, the vessel suddenly changed its… pic.twitter.com/vjh2qaOJOm February 19, 2026 The Trump administration is meanwhile contemplating whether to escalate its military pressure on Iran by beginning to directly seize Iranian oil exports. This would be seen by Tehran as an immediate act of war. Tyler Durden Fri, 02/20/2026 - 02:45

Teekay Tankers (TNK) has released the transcript of its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, detailing its financial results and outlook.

A summary of Teekay Tankers Ltd.'s Q4 2025 earnings call provides key financial highlights and management commentary from the period.

India has seized tankers belonging to the 'shadow fleet' that are under sanctions, a move that comes amidst a thawing of trade relations with the U.S.

India has seized sanctioned shadow fleet tankers, a move that comes amid a thawing of trade relations with the United States.

India Seizes Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tankers Amid Trade Thaw With U.S.  The Wall Street Journal

India Seizes Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tankers Amid Trade Thaw With U.S.  The Wall Street Journal

India seizes three Iran-linked US-sanctioned tankers, source says  Daily Maverick

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained cut off from rest of the country on Sunday as activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf continued their protest on third consecutive day and blocked all entry and exit points of the province. The PTI activists have blocked Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway at Swabi’s Anbar Interchange, GT Road at Khairabad Bridge, Dera Ismail Khan-Bhakkar Road, Lakki Marwat-Mianwali Road, Hazara Motorway at Abbottabad-Havelian Interchange, Kohat-Pindi Road near Khushal Garh and Upper Kohistan-Gilgit Karakoram Highway. Protesters remained present all the time at exit and entry points and did not allow a single vehicle to enter the province, causing serious problems to passengers and motorists destined to Islamabad and other parts of the country. Former governor Shah Farman, PTI Peshawar district president Irfan Saleem, deputy secretary information Ikram Khattana and other leaders of the party were present at Khairabad Bridge, connecting Attock district of Punjab with KP. Commuters, motorists face hardships Protesters have been demanding of the government to shift PTI founder Imran Khan from jail to hospital for treatment of his eye by doctors of his choice. Speaking on the occasion, Shah Farman said that under Article-4 of the Constitution, no authority could deny treatment of his choice to a patient. He said that the people, who were not allowing treatment of Imran Khan through doctors of his choice, would be responsible if his eye was further damaged. PTI workers blocked Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway near Swabi Interchange to all types of traffic, vowing to stay on roads till Imran Khan was shifted to hospital for medical treatment. Vendors were seen selling various eatables while setting up stalls on motorway, converting it into a market. PTI Swabi general secretary Afsar Khan told journalists that they were not ready to go back homes under any circumstances. “We will continue to sit here and if our demand is not accepted. This protest will continue. The federal government is responsible for the prevailing mess in the country,” he said. Stranded commuters said that government should take action against PTI workers to open the motorway to traffic because people, especially patients, were facing difficulties. “Where should we go, who should we beg, who should we ask and who should we request to open the motorway,” questioned Shahzad Khan, a resident of Peshawar. Uzair Khan, a resident of Gundam who was seriously injured in a firing incident on Saturday, was not allowed to reach a hospital in Peshawar through motorway. The circumstances forced his family to pass through Swabi and Mardan but he did not reach hospital and passed away. His relatives said that PTI workers were responsible for his death. During the last three days, it has been observed, that there is no rush at daytime at the venue of protest. In the afternoon youth start to arrive at rest area and in the evening there is a lot of crowd on motorway. PTI workers blocked roads at four key points in Dera Ismail Khan district on Sunday, suspending traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters and motorists. The sit-ins were held on Bhakkar Road, Multan Road, Chashma Road and CPEC route, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill at these locations. As a result, long queues of vehicles were seen on major arteries. Witnesses said that several commuters remained stranded for hours, while alternative routes also experienced heavy congestion due to diverted traffic. The protest is being held on the call of PTI central leaders, who have urged workers to demonstrate over the deteriorating health of Imran Khan and demand his immediate release. The district administration was monitoring the situation while residents called for restoration of traffic flow to ease their hardships. PTI activists continued protest demonstrations in Lakki Marwat and Karak districts on the second consecutive day on Sunday. A good number of party workers led by former district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Minakhel gathered at Darra Tang Point where they closed Bannu-Mianwali road, linking KP with Punjab and Islamabad via CPEC route. The closure of road on the second consecutive day troubled transporters and commuters as passenger and good transport vehicles queued up on both sides of the main artery. On the occasion, the former district nazim said that denial of access to healthcare and maltreatment by federal government had led to loss of Imran’s vision. He said that PTI activists had come on roads to hold peaceful protests against the PML-N government, which was responsible for the poor health of their party leader. In Karak, the PTI workers gathered outside Nashapa oil and gas field and staged a sit-in there. They stopped supply from the oil and gas field as oil tankers could not enter or come out of the area. An official of district administration confirmed disruption of oil supply from the field. PTI district president Inayat Khattak said that leaders and workers of the party decided in a meeting to shut down oil and gas fields in Makori, Nashapa and Gurguri to record their protest against non-provision of treatment facilities to Imran Khan. Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026