Ship owners are not expected to immediately resume transit through the Strait of Hormuz, even after the announcement of a deal between the US and Iran. According to the executive director of Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines, Jotaro Tamura, the shipping sector requires concrete evidence that the situation has stabilized before resuming navigation in one of the world's most important sea routes.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Tamura emphasized that it is not enough to reach a political agreement alone, but it must be accompanied by real improvements in security on the ground, so that shipping companies feel safe to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Given the experience of recent months, it is reasonable to think that it may take at least two weeks, or even a month, before operators resume normal sailing," he stated.
The fighting in the region has significantly affected maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic corridor through which about a fifth of global supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas pass, as well as other important commodities such as aluminum and urea.
Mitsui OSK Lines, one of the largest shipping companies in Japan with over 900 ships in its fleet, continues to maintain a cautious approach to developments in the region.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has declared that oil-laden ships have begun to move again through safe sea routes, emphasizing that the “Southern Route” is fully protected and functional. However, according to industry leaders, full confidence of operators will only be restored once stability in the region is proven in practice.
