UK Foreign Secretary Warns of Food Crisis From Strait Closure

The world is at risk of a severe global food crisis due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned on Monday. Speaking at the Global Partnerships Conference in London, Cooper stated that the blockade, imposed by Iran following military strikes by the United States and Israel in late February, has severely disrupted the flow of fertilizer and energy, threatening agricultural production and food security worldwide.

Cooper framed the reopening of the strategic waterway as an urgent priority, stating that fertilizer needs to begin moving through the strait within weeks to prevent widespread hunger. She cited data from the World Food Programme estimating that nearly 45 million more people could fall into acute food insecurity if the conflict does not end by mid-year. The foreign secretary argued that global pressure is required to resume the vital trade, emphasizing that the world cannot risk tens of millions going hungry because one country has hijacked an international shipping lane.

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage linking the Persian Gulf with international markets, has seen shipping traffic plummet since the conflict...