1,500 Vessels Stranded in Persian Gulf May Take Weeks or Months to Clear Despite Hormuz Reopening Deal

According to The New York Times, on May 25, approximately 1,500 vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf for nearly three months may require weeks or even months to resume normal passage despite U.S.-Iran negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping companies must resolve vessel priorities, transit permits, route coordination, and potential mine clearance risks before full operations resume.

Industry experts estimate that even if the agreement is finalized, returning to pre-disruption levels of 130 ships per day could take weeks to months. Since the Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, the prolonged recovery delay may also slow international energy price declines.