Trump’s Iran War Chokes Off Ancient Frankincense Trade, Exposing Deeper Supply Chain Chaos

The Trump administration’s manufactured conflict with Iran is causing more collateral damage than just geopolitical instability. Beyond the headlines about oil tankers and sanctions, ancient trade routes for frankincense—a prized aromatic resin harvested from Boswellia trees—are now caught in the crossfire.

Frankincense has been traded for over 6,000 years, linking the Arabian peninsula, northern Africa, and beyond. It was buried with King Tut, gifted by the biblical wise men, and burned in religious ceremonies worldwide. Today, it fuels a niche market for health supplements, anti-aging creams, and perfumes. Thousands of tons are exported annually from Oman, Yemen, and the Horn of Africa, regions now entangled in the Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward Iran.

According to a recent Institute for Supply Management (ISM) report, businesses importing frankincense from Oman are facing “significant uncertainty” due to U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran. One unnamed wholesaler detailed how threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and soaring war-risk surcharges have hiked regional logistics costs. This disruption is emblematic of the war’s broader economic fallout, hitting supply chains far beyond oil.

Steve Miller of ISM emphasized the unexpected consequences: “When you look deep in supply chains, there are things that you don’t expect. This one was interesting in that it was a significant impact to this company.” For many importers, the Iran war’s logistical snarls have eclipsed the tariff battles initiated by Trump’s trade war. The frankincense market is particularly vulnerable because there is no alternative source for this resin outside the conflict zone.

The crisis also underscores the fragility of natural resource supply chains. Most Boswellia trees grow wild and are susceptible to over-harvesting and deforestation. Anjanette DeCarlo, founder of the Save Frankincense Initiative, compares the tapping process to maple syrup production—if done improperly, it can damage the trees. Sustainable harvesting efforts are now at risk as the war compounds existing environmental pressures.

This tangled web of military aggression, economic warfare, and environmental vulnerability reveals a stark truth: Trump’s Iran war is not just a geopolitical gamble but a reckless gamble with global commerce and cultural heritage. The disruption of frankincense trade is a vivid example of how authoritarian overreach and foreign entanglements ripple through everyday lives and industries, far beyond the battlefield.

We can’t afford to ignore these cascading impacts. The Trump administration’s war strategy is not only destabilizing a region but also choking off ancient, vital supply chains that have endured for millennia. Accountability demands we spotlight these overlooked casualties of reckless power plays.