Iran's Trade Plummets Under US Blockade, Drivers Suffer Severe Conditions

Iran's trade has plummeted under the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, despite efforts to circumvent the restrictions by shipping oil and goods overland.

The Islamic republic's non-oil exports have fallen by nearly 30% to $15 billion as of August 16, about five months into the Iranian calendar year. The regime had exported around $45 billion in non-oil goods during the previous fiscal year.

Iran's oil exports have also taken a hit, dropping to just about 210,000 barrels a day in August, the lowest level since 2020 and nearly 10% of what it was before the war began. This has caused significant bottlenecks on land, with over 3,700 cargo trucks stuck at the borders with Turkey and Pakistan.

Iranian drivers are facing severe conditions, including record-high fuel prices, waiting times of up to 20 days to cross the border, and limited access to food, water, or sanitation. The truckers' union has reported that drivers are going days without these basic necessities in 120-degree heat.