Strait of Hormuz oil shipments to lag months after US‑Iran interim deal

An interim agreement between the United States and Iran is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing supply‑risk concerns and supporting higher oil prices. Analysts caution that a full return to pre‑conflict trade levels will take months, as confidence among shipowners, insurers and refiners must be rebuilt.

"The market tends to treat reopening as a switch you flip, but in reality it’s more of a process," said analyst Haris Khu. Alternative routes and contracts secured during the disruption mean that oil flows will not simply revert to pre‑war patterns.

The gradual normalization is likely to keep oil markets volatile while stakeholders adapt to the new shipping environment.