The US and Iran have reached a political agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but sources say operational resumption will be complex and likely phased. Commodity data firm Kepler reports about 118 laden oil tankers remain stranded in the Persian

2026-06-19

The US and Iran have reached a political agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but sources say operational resumption will be complex and likely phased. Commodity data firm Kepler reports about 118 laden oil tankers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf awaiting transit; analysts estimate 10–15 days to clear that backlog. If hundreds more vessels converge, transit sequencing will be the key constraint on recovery speed. Given the impact on global energy supply, oil tankers and LNG carriers are expected to receive priority while container and other cargo ships may face extended delays.