Direct cargo shipping between the UAE and Iran has resumed, an Iranian trade official said, as commercial links return to normal after months of disruption from regional tensions, Iran Students' News Agency reported on July 1.

The resumption points to a recovery in Iran's supply chains through Jebel Ali, one of the region's most important transhipment hubs, after conflict and shipping disruption stranded part of Iranian traders' cargo at the port.

Freight lines from the UAE to Iran are now active on a direct basis, said Ali Emami, director general of logistics and support at the Trade Development Organisation of Iran, in response to a question about containers remaining in the UAE.

"Commercial relations are returning to normal conditions and direct cargo transport from the UAE to Iran has been established," said Emami.

In recent months, part of Iranian traders' shipments had been held at the port due to regional tensions and disruption to maritime routes, but the transfer of these goods to the country's ports has now restarted.

Jebel Ali is one of the main gateways supplying goods to Iran, with a significant share of the country's imports, particularly intermediate goods, raw materials and equipment, moving through the port to Iran's southern ports.

The resumption of direct shipments could reduce waiting times for clearance and delivery and ease some of the knots in the supply chain.

Private sector figures said that while trade routes had reopened, sea freight rates, insurance costs and some additional charges had not returned to pre-crisis levels, an issue that officials at the Trade Development Organisation said required intervention from responsible bodies and a review of current rates by transport companies.