The Middle East conflict is pushing up energy prices and feeding into UK food costs, with businesses warning the impact is reaching consumers through everyday grocery bills.
The warning has been highlighted by Sainsbury's - a leading British supermarket chain - which says rising energy costs linked to the war involving Iran are feeding through the food supply chain and increasing pressure on prices.
Simon Roberts, the CEO of Sainsbury's, said the government should step in to support the sector, arguing that higher energy bills risk pushing grocery inflation further up.
Energy is a major cost across the industry, from farming and food production to transport and retail, meaning global shocks can quickly translate into higher prices on supermarket shelves.
The UK is particularly exposed to these pressures. Wholesale gas prices have surged since the conflict began, while oil prices have climbed sharply amid disruption to global supply routes.
That broader energy shock is already feeding into inflation. UK food inflation rose to 3.7% in March, and industry bodies have warned prices could increase significantly further by the end of the year.
Businesses say there is only so much they can absorb. While supermarkets are trying to keep prices low, rising costs across production, storage and distribution are making further increases harder to avoid.
The situation highlights how geopolitical tensions are filtering into daily life, not just through fuel prices but also through the cost of basic goods.
Economists warn that if energy markets remain volatile, pressure on household budgets is likely to intensify, turning a distant conflict into a direct cost-of-living issue for UK consumers.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
Moscow should stop linking Russia-Armenia relations to Azerbaijan, Baku's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said, after Russia again raised the Collective Security Treaty Organisation's role during the former Garabagh conflict.
The 27 July edition of Daybreak covers a pause in fighting between the U.S. and Iran, the latest developments in Russia's war against Ukraine, and mass evacuations as wildfires continue to spread across France and Spain.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq, saying they were responsible for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, as Washington said it had intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
A majority of Americans believe the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran has proved more challenging than the Trump administration expected, according to a new CBS News/YouGov survey.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
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