Officials across the Gulf say the immediate relief comes from the reduced threat to civilian infrastructure, particularly desalination plants, power grids, and energy facilities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. However, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains operationally complex despite the ceasefire. Iranian authorities have indicated that vessels may transit the waterway, but passage must be coordinated with Iranian forces for security reasons, effectively maintaining Tehran's control over shipping movements.
Shipping sources say more than 800 vessels remain stranded inside the Gulf, creating a significant backlog, while insurers are still reviewing risk premiums amid concerns that the truce remains fragile. One of the most contentious developments is Iran's proposal to impose a transit fee, reportedly amounting to two million dollars per vessel, to be shared with Oman. Shipping associations have raised concerns over this move, calling it a departure from long-standing international maritime norms and warning that it could complicate the resumption of normal trade flows.
Meanwhile, Israel has agreed to the two-week pause involving Iran but has signaled that it will continue operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, raising concerns that tensions could still spill over and undermine the fragile truce. Across West Asia, the ceasefire has brought relief to energy markets and shipping lanes, but uncertainty continues to dominate. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of global oil supplies pass, remains only partially operational as shipping companies await clear security protocols.
Hundreds of tankers remain stuck, insurers remain cautious, and energy traders continue to price in geopolitical risk. The next 48 hours will be critical, particularly as the United States relies on satellite and maritime surveillance to monitor compliance, with no international peacekeeping force in place. Attention is also focused on Iran's Kharg Island export terminal, where recent strikes targeted storage facilities. How quickly Iran resumes exports from the terminal is expected to be the first real test of whether the ceasefire holds or whether the pause merely provides time for both sides to regroup.