The war involving the United States and Iran is creating a growing global food crisis, according to the United Nations World Food Programme, as renewed military exchanges threaten a fragile ceasefire and keep pressure on President Donald Trump to secure a broader peace agreement.
The World Food Programme warned that the conflict’s impact on oil prices, trade routes and fragile economies is already being felt far beyond the Middle East. The agency previously estimated that as many as 45 million additional people could fall into acute food insecurity if oil prices remained around $100 per barrel through the end of June. Officials now say that warning scenario is beginning to materialize.
The crisis is tied closely to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. The near-closure or disruption of the strait has pushed oil prices higher and increased transportation and food costs in countries already struggling with poverty, debt, drought or conflict.
Jean-Martin Bauer, director of food security and nutrition analysis at the World Food Programme, said earlier pessimistic forecasts are now being proven right. While global food indexes may not show the full impact yet, the agency said fragile countries are already seeing serious pressure from rising fuel costs, food price spikes, reduced income and trade disruption.
TRENDING TODAY
The WFP has pointed to countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka as especially vulnerable. In those places, even small increases in fuel or food prices can quickly become a survival problem for households that already spend much of their income on basic needs.
The warning comes as U.S. and Iranian forces have again exchanged fire, putting the ceasefire under new strain. U.S. Central Command said American forces intercepted Iranian drones that threatened maritime traffic near the Strait of Hormuz and later struck Iranian radar sites. Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire and launched missiles toward U.S.-allied Gulf states, including Kuwait and Bahrain, according to reports.
Most of the missiles were reportedly intercepted, but the exchange underscored how quickly the conflict could widen again. Kuwait and Bahrain are important U.S. partners in the Gulf, and any direct attacks near their territory raise the risk of broader regional escalation.
Trump is now facing pressure on several fronts. Internationally, allies want the United States to stabilize the region and reopen safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Economically, the war’s effect on oil prices threatens to raise fuel and food costs around the world. Politically, the conflict is unpopular with many voters as the midterm elections approach.
Negotiators have reportedly been working on extending the ceasefire and creating a new path for talks over Iran’s nuclear program. But progress has been slow. Both Washington and Tehran have continued to demand changes, and neither side appears ready to make major concessions.
The food-security impact gives the conflict a wider humanitarian dimension. The war is not only a military or diplomatic crisis; it is also affecting families thousands of miles away who may never hear a missile or drone but still feel the consequences through higher bread, fuel and transport costs.
The WFP warning also shows how connected energy markets and food security have become. When oil prices rise sharply, farmers pay more for fuel, food transport becomes more expensive, and import-dependent countries face higher costs. For wealthy countries, that may mean inflation. For poorer countries, it can mean hunger.
The Trump administration has argued that pressure on Iran is necessary to force a better security outcome. Critics argue that the longer the conflict lasts, the more likely it is to damage global stability, deepen hunger and create political problems at home.
For now, the ceasefire remains fragile. The latest U.S.-Iran exchange shows that even limited military actions can quickly threaten diplomacy. If the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted and oil prices stay elevated, the humanitarian consequences could continue to grow.
Why It Matters
The conflict matters because it is no longer contained to the battlefield. Higher oil prices and disrupted trade routes are pushing food costs higher in fragile countries, increasing the risk of hunger for millions of people.
It also matters politically for Trump. A prolonged war could hurt global markets, raise prices for consumers and become a major issue in the midterm election cycle.
What Comes Next
Diplomats are expected to keep working on a longer ceasefire and renewed talks over Iran’s nuclear program, but the latest military exchanges show how difficult that process remains.
The key issues to watch are whether the Strait of Hormuz can reopen safely, whether oil prices remain near $100 per barrel, and whether U.S. and Iranian negotiators can prevent another major escalation.
The US-Israeli war on Iran could tip up to 45 million people into acute hunger, warns the UN’s World Food Programme, as soaring fuel costs and funding cuts hit fragile and poor countries the hardest. pic.twitter.com/qT1jU6U3GX
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 5, 2026
