US-Iran conflict chokes trade and daily life along Iraq border
Months of US strikes on Iran have crippled border trade and traumatized communities in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
The prolonged US military campaign against Iran is taking a heavy toll on communities in northern Iraq, where border crossings have long served as vital economic lifelines. The Haji Omeran crossing, a key route between Iraq's Kurdistan Region and Iran, was shut to commercial traffic when strikes began in late February. Although it has since reopened, the flow of goods has not returned to pre-war levels.
Truck driver Rasul Ahmed, from Erbil, noted the sharp decline in cross-border movement. "After the war, the transfer between the borders decreased so much, but still we have some trade," he said.
Iranian traders are also feeling the squeeze. Shariq, a trader from Piranshahr, pointed to the collapse in the value of Iran's currency as a major obstacle. "The border crossing has become less and less, not like before. Iran's currency is very low value because of the inflation, and unless we have guaranteed work here we cannot afford to come," he explained.
The disruption extends beyond the crossing itself. In Choman, a town in Erbil Governorate, local businesses that depend on a steady stream of visitors and goods are struggling. The constant threat of violence has altered everyday life.
Sherzad Salih, a local glass-maker, described the paralysis caused by the conflict. "Our work became very barred. We cannot do anything because of the sound of drones and missiles. We hope to God that things might get better again," he said.
Residents are also living in fear. Ahmed Jamal, a barber, said the sounds of war have driven people indoors. "Because of the sound of the drones, missiles and fighter jets, people do not dare to come out of their houses. There are so many people crying in their houses because of these horrible sounds," he said.
The US administration had initially indicated the campaign would be brief, but the conflict has dragged on for months with no clear end in sight. The economic and psychological damage continues to ripple through border communities, leaving them in a state of deep uncertainty.