Commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is expected to resume normal operations within 30 days under a new framework agreement between the US and Iran. The agreement includes toll-free navigation, priority passage for oil and gas tankers, and a coordinated maritime mechanism supported by the US to reopen this vital energy route.
A memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries outlines plans to lift the naval blockade that had disrupted maritime traffic and impacted global energy markets. US officials noted that shipping activity has already started to increase following the agreement, with expectations of further acceleration in the coming days.
Vessel traffic, which had declined significantly during the crisis, is anticipated to rebound swiftly. The reopening of the strait is expected to prioritize heavy tankers carrying energy cargoes, such as oil and gas, to facilitate a rapid flow of commercial traffic through the waterway.
Washington has established a maritime coordination system in Bahrain, working in conjunction with the US Central Command, to assist in the return of commercial shipping. Despite some shipping companies exercising caution due to previous security concerns, officials are confident that normal conditions will be restored within a month.
US officials emphasized the importance of restoring maritime traffic in the strait for global trade and energy supplies. Efforts to reopen the waterway were seen as crucial for the world economy, with expectations of a swift return to normalcy and reduced Iranian leverage over the route.
