Tanker Traffic in Strait of Hormuz to Stay Disrupted for Months, Even if Iran Deal Is Reached

Iran and Oman are holding talks on a temporary arrangement to ease shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but attacks on regional energy sites and sharp disagreements over transit rules are blocking a quick deal, according to Bloomberg News correspondents. Bloomberg White House Correspondent Skylar Woodhouse and Middle East Correspondent Abeer Abu Omar told hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini on *Bloomberg This Weekend* that even if negotiators reach an agreement, shipowners and traders expect oil flows will need weeks or months to return to near-normal levels. The discussions come as the strait—a narrow waterway carrying roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil—remains under pressure from recent strikes on energy infrastructure in the region. The two sides have not yet resolved core questions on how vessels will be inspected or escorted, sources said. Until those rules are settled, the risk of delays or rerouting stays high. For now, shipping companies are holding back on committing to new transits, and insurers are raising premiums for the route. The talks are still active, but no timeline for a final deal has been announced. The practical impact, analysts say, will be felt long after any handshake: a return to full capacity will be slow, and the market should not expect immediate relief.