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 (11 May) that the fragile ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” after he dismissed Tehran’s response to a U.S. peace proposal, raising fears the 10-week conflict could reignite and further disrupt global energy supplies.
China’s exports grew faster than expected in April, as overseas buyers moved quickly to secure supplies amid fears that the conflict involving Iran could drive up global energy and transport costs.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phase” for the Strait of Hormuz, while a senior adviser said U.S. blockade efforts would fail and could trigger confrontation.
Iran said on Thursday it would respond with “long and painful strikes” against U.S. positions if Washington resumed attacks, while also reasserting its claim over the Strait of Hormuz, complicating U.S. plans to form a coalition to reopen the waterway.
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Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
Iran and Israel have halted strikes on each other, but Tehran has warned it will recommence attacks if Israel continues military action in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have meanwhile made pleas for peace.
Sirens rang out across multiple areas of Israel on Sunday night after missiles were launched from Iran towards the country, the Israeli military said. Earlier, Tehran's top negotiator in talks with the U.S. threatened to target Israeli and American assets in the region, after Israel struck Beirut.
U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “crazy” during a phone exchange over fighting in Lebanon. The call came as the U.S. was attempting to broker an end to hostilities involving Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Monday they targeted the source of an attack on a telecom facility on Sirik Island near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Iran really wanted to make a deal with the U.S. and that it would be a good one for Washington and its allies, President Donald Trump said on Monday.
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