Iran has no plans to soften its position in talks with the United States, making it too early to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, Iraqi energy expert Mamdouh Salameh said.

In his view, Iran “will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping unless its conditions are met,” which primarily include an end to the US military operation, the withdrawal of US military bases from Gulf countries, and the pullout of US forces from the Gulf region.

Salameh predicted the crisis could last “several months, even up to a year,” affecting oil prices, energy security and the global economy.