Maritime expert Rockford Wait of Tufts University’s Fletcher School told Al Jazeera that even after an agreement, it will take several months for the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal operations. The first step toward resuming navigation will be mine removal, and even after that process, vessel movement will begin cautiously. He said the shipping industry must regain confidence before fully resuming transit through the strait.

Wait noted that the disruption to maritime traffic has been longer than anyone initially expected, and shipping companies will likely remain hesitant in the early stages. He added that oil and gas production facilities in several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, have been damaged and will require time to recover.

The expert emphasized that a return to pre-war conditions will depend on stability and smooth operations, estimating that several months will be needed before full normalization.