Iran is looking for alternatives to export its oil as the United States blockades the country’s southern ports, according to Al Jazeera. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz impaired by war, the focus has turned to whether trade can be redirected north to the Caspian Sea.

The Strait of Hormuz has long been one of the world’s most important channels for the movement of oil. Al Jazeera reports that the waterway has been impaired as a result of the conflict, raising questions about how Iran can continue to move its exports to market.

In response, Iran is examining a northern route via the Caspian Sea. The shift would represent an attempt to bypass the blockaded southern ports and keep oil exports flowing despite the pressure on its traditional maritime corridors.

The central question raised by Al Jazeera is whether such a redirection is feasible. Moving trade north would mark a significant change in how Iran handles its exports, and the outlet frames the situation as a test of Iran’s ability to adapt to the constraints imposed by the blockade and the conflict.

As the situation develops, the viability of the Caspian option and the duration of the disruption to the Strait of Hormuz remain key factors in determining how Iran’s oil trade proceeds.