The last oil tanker carrying crude from the Persian Gulf (Iraq) is unloading in Long Beach, California. This effectively marks the end of Middle East oil imports to the state, at least for now. We need to replace roughly 200,000 barrels per day. We are not running dry — not yet. California has petroleum stockpiles and can pivot to other sources like Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Canada, and increased U.S. domestic crude. The last oil tanker carrying crude from the Persian Gulf (Iraq) is unloading in Long Beach, California. This effectively marks the end of Middle East oil imports to the state, at least for now. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Yet the scramble itself exposes a deeper rot: state-level decisions have made California uniquely vulnerable to supply shocks like the current Middle East disruptions . Geography does not help. California is an “energy island,” with very limited pipelines from other U.S. regions, forcing tanker imports, typically going through the Panama Canal.…