Iraqi Captain Navigates Tensions: US-Iran Conflict Risks Shipping

Iraqi Captain Rahman Al-Jubouri navigates the dangerous waters between the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil. He describes his job as sailing over a “ball of fire.” Al-Jubouri has spent decades at sea, but the current US-Iran tensions make his work riskier than ever. Military strikes threaten vessels near chokepoints like Bab el-Mandeb. His tanker, the Sea Moon, is headed from the Gulf of Aden to Ras Isa port in Yemen, but delays and security concerns complicate the journey. Recent conflicts have put commercial ships in the line of fire, with Iranian forces targeting tankers. Just last week, American military forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, marking a significant escalation. Al-Jubouri’s crew undergoes regular safety drills to prepare for possible attacks. Despite the dangers, his team has shrunk from 27 sailors to just 17, as fear drives some away. This situation matters because it impacts global oil supplies and highlights the human cost of geopolitical conflicts.