Operations at Umm Qasr, Iraq’s primary deep-water port, have come to a complete halt, disrupting one of the nation’s main trade gateways. Docking sites and cargo areas that were once filled with shipping containers now stand empty. This paralysis is a direct consequence of the war launched by the United States and Israel against neighboring Iran at the end of February 2026.
The blockade imposed by Tehran on the Strait of Hormuz, located at the far end of the Persian Gulf, has prevented commercial vessels from reaching Umm Qasr. The port is situated about 60 kilometers south of the Basrah oil fields, where nearly all of Iraq’s crude oil is produced and exported. Given that oil revenue accounts for roughly 90 percent of Iraq’s national budget, the slowdown has dealt a significant blow to the country’s economy.
In addition to oil, a substantial portion of Iraq’s imported goods, including grain and sugar, pass through Umm Qasr. The ongoing conflict has also raised concerns about shipping security in the region, especially with threats to the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea. Recently, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to blockade Saudi shipping in that area and attacked a Saudi tanker, setting it on fire.
People in the region have grown accustomed to hearing rockets overhead as Iran targets US air bases and other strategic sites in Kuwait and elsewhere.
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