A backlog of ships stranded by nearly four months of conflict in the Strait of Hormuz could take weeks to clear despite a U.S.-brokered agreement to reopen the critical waterway, shipping and energy experts said.

"The most likely scenario is a phased restart, with some form of traffic-management mechanism involving Iran and Oman," Adam Sharpe, vice president of editorial at Lloyd's List Intelligence, told CNBC on Thursday.

Sharpe said major questions remain, including whether vessels will need prior authorization to transit, whether Iran will impose service fees, whether foreign naval escorts will be permitted, and whether mine-clearance operations will be required.

"There is no precedent for restarting Hormuz after a disruption of this nature," Sharpe said. "A cautious working assumption would be a gradual ramp-up rather than an immediate return to 100-plus daily transits."

Oil prices briefly fell below $80 per barrel after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday night ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian tolls for at least 60 days.

Markets welcomed the prospect of restored flows of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other goods through one of the world's most important shipping corridors.

Before the conflict, Lloyd's List Intelligence data showed between 650 and 770 cargo vessels passed through the Strait each week, equivalent to roughly 90 to 110 daily transits in both directions.

Shipping data from QuantCube Technology has not yet shown a significant increase in oil export departures from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or Iraq. In Saudi Arabia's Dammam region, which includes the Ras Tanura export terminal, vessels have continued loading cargo before waiting offshore.

"Since June 8, tankers departing Dammam have spent significantly longer waiting at anchor before departure," said Alan Lemangnen, a senior economist at QuantCube. "This suggests that a queue of vessels may have formed offshore rather than at port facilities."

Analysts at Kpler estimated in a note Monday that 118 tankers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.

The firm projected it could take 10 to 15 days to clear the immediate backlog, but cautioned that doing so would not necessarily restore normal shipping capacity.

"The initial boost would be purely mechanical," Kpler analysts wrote, adding that an early surge in vessel traffic would not immediately increase overall throughput.

Industry experts expect crude oil tankers and LNG carriers to receive priority access through the Strait because of their importance to global energy markets. Other cargo vessels, including container ships, could face longer delays.

"Prioritization may not be purely commercial," Sharpe said.

Factors such as vessel location, ownership, flag, cargo type, and security considerations could also influence transit decisions.

Before normal shipping operations can resume, naval forces must certify safe transit corridors, insurers must restore war-risk coverage, and regional authorities must coordinate vessel movements, convoy systems, and transit windows.

"Underwriters will want evidence of a stable and predictable operating environment: consistent safe transits, no interference, clarity on mine risk, and no renewed escalation," Sharpe said.

Mine clearance remains another potential obstacle. Nikos Petrakakos, managing director at maritime investment manager Tufton, said uncertainty over mines could slow the reopening process.

"Until there is full certainty that there are no mines, the process will be slow and would take a few weeks since only a small passage is then available safely," Petrakakos told CNBC. "Once clarity with mines is secured, then it could be less than a week. But I feel many will be cautious at first."

Sharpe compared the situation to the Red Sea, where many operators remained reluctant to resume normal routes even after signs of reduced Houthi attacks.

While Kpler expects most Middle Eastern oil production to return within weeks, analysts said the pace at which that supply reaches global markets will depend on coordination among governments, insurers, and shipping companies.

Goldman Sachs lowered its oil-price outlook following the agreement, reducing its forecast for Brent crude to $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026 from its previous forecast of $90. The bank also lowered its average 2027 forecast to $75 per barrel.