Boat owners, according to Khan, have completely stopped sending their vessels to the Iranian ports for fear of US strikes. Tuna is a staple in Iranian kitchens, but it has little demand in Pakistan, leaving fishermen with few options for selling their catch. Iran is the only option for us," said Hussain Baloch, another fisherman involved in tuna trade. Speaking to Anadolu, he said that tuna fetches prices six to seven times higher in the Iranian market than in Pakistan. The escalating fuel prices have also brought Pakistan's boatbuilding industry to a standstill, with new orders declining by up to 90%.