NewsHK
The Strait of Hormuz is on course to reopen following a peace agreement between Iran and the United States, but experts caution that accumulated shipping backlogs and security checks mean a return to normal transit conditions could take weeks — leaving oil markets under sustained pressure even as the diplomatic breakthrough takes hold.
Diplomatic Deal Masks an Operational Bottleneck The Iran-U.S. peace deal removes the political obstacle that closed the strait, but it does not dissolve the logistical one.
Vessels that diverted, anchored, or suspended transit during the closure have created a queue that cannot clear overnight.
Experts warn that security checks on ships seeking to pass through will add further delay, slowing the throughput of a chokepoint that carries a significant share of the world's seaborne oil.
Keep reading