[Gulf and European Officials: U.S.-Iran Agreement Will Take At Least Six Months, Not 'Soon'] According to a report by Jinse Finance on April 17, Gulf and European officials familiar with the matter revealed that some Gulf Arab states and European leaders believe a peace agreement between the United States and Iran will take approximately six months to reach. The warring parties should extend the ceasefire to cover this timeframe. These officials, who requested anonymity due to the private nature of the discussions, stated that world leaders are urging the immediate reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz to restore energy flows. They privately warned that if the strait is not reopened by next month, a global food crisis could erupt. The officials noted that if the conflict drags on, energy prices could rise further. The officials also said that Gulf nations believe Iran is pursuing the development of nuclear weapons, a stance that has not changed following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Therefore, they argue that any peace agreement should prohibit Iran from enriching uranium or possessing long-range ballistic missiles. Despite this, the officials noted that most Gulf leaders oppose a renewed war and hope the U.S. and Iran can resolve the issue through diplomatic means. Spokespersons for the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain did not immediately respond to Bloomberg's requests for comment. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred Bloomberg to a statement issued on April 8, which stated that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened 'unconditionally.'