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Iran is shifting trade northward to the Caspian Sea as the war-related blockade of its southern ports impairs the Strait of Hormuz, seeking alternative routes to export its oil. The move reflects Tehran's effort to mitigate the economic damage from the ongoing standoff with the US over the strait. The shift underscores the broader economic toll of the conflict on Iran, as sanctions and military tensions in the south push the country to seek new export channels to sustain its oil revenue.