Trump's Iran Agreement May Reopen Hormuz, But World's Largest Tanker Owner Warns Traffic Could Take Weeks To Return To Normal

Mitsui OSK Lines, the world's largest tanker owner, warned that normalizing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will take at least two weeks following a U.S.-Iran deal to reopen the waterway. Jotun Tamura, the company's head, said shipping operators will require proof the agreement is functioning before resuming normal routes through the strait, which handles over one-fifth of global crude oil supply.

Before the conflict, approximately 135 ships passed through the strait daily. The delayed return to normal operations means crude supply chains will remain constrained even after the diplomatic breakthrough, potentially keeping oil prices elevated during the transition period.

Mitsui OSK Lines operates the largest tanker fleet globally, giving Tamura's timeline significant weight among shipping operators who collectively determine when normal traffic resumes. The two-week estimate assumes no further disruptions to the agreement.