UK calls emergency meeting over economic fallout from Middle East conflict

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has convened an emergency Cobra meeting to address the economic impact of the escalating Middle East conflict, BBC reports.

The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, follows Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global trade and threatened the UK economy. Starmer stated the session would ensure “everything needed is in place, monitored, and managed responsibly.”

On Monday, the prime minister gathered leaders from the energy, shipping, and banking sectors to discuss the crisis. He emphasised that mitigating the conflict’s economic consequences requires a joint effort, noting that the government “cannot do this alone.”

Cobra meetings—Britain’s highest-level crisis response forum—are reserved for major national and international emergencies.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has seen heightened tensions as Iran’s actions strain supply chains and financial markets.