UN Warns Iran War Could Push 30 Mln into Poverty

More than 30 million people could be driven into poverty due to the global fallout from the Iran conflict, a senior UN official has warned, highlighting growing risks to food security and economic stability.

Alexander De Croo, head of the United Nations Development Programme, said the war has disrupted fuel and fertilizer supplies at a critical time for global agriculture, particularly as farmers enter key planting periods.

In comments reported by Reuters, he pointed to fertilizer shortages worsened by restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global trade.

The disruption has already reduced agricultural productivity and is expected to affect crop yields later this year, raising concerns about a sharp rise in global food insecurity in the coming months.

He warned that food shortages could peak within a short timeframe, adding that limited solutions are available to offset the impact. Beyond agriculture, the crisis is also affecting energy supplies and remittance flows, compounding economic pressures on vulnerable populations.

Even if the conflict were to end immediately, the damage has already been done, with long-term consequences likely to push millions into poverty, he indicated.

The Middle East produces a significant share of the world’s fertilizers, with roughly one-third of global supply passing through the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions between Iran and the US have intensified.

Earlier this month, global institutions including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Food Programme warned that the conflict could drive food prices higher, placing additional strain on the world’s poorest communities.

De Croo noted that the crisis has already erased an estimated 0.5% to 0.8% of global GDP, underscoring the scale of the economic shock.

The situation is also intensifying pressure on humanitarian operations, as funding declines while needs rise in regions already facing severe crises, including Sudan, Gaza Strip, and Ukraine.

He cautioned that aid agencies may soon be forced to turn people away due to limited resources, leaving many without critical support and increasing their vulnerability in an already fragile global environment.