The ongoing US-Israel war involving Iran poses a serious risk to global food security, the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned, urging countries to keep international supply chains open.

Speaking in Geneva, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the conflict in the Middle East is disrupting shipping routes and driving up energy costs, which in turn reduce fertiliser supply and increase prices, The Caspian Post reports.

She noted that around one-third of the world’s nitrogen fertiliser supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making the region critical to global agriculture.

Okonjo-Iweala cautioned that prolonged supply disruptions could have far-reaching effects, forcing farmers to cut back on fertiliser use and shift to less input-intensive crops.

She emphasised the need to maintain open and predictable global food trade channels to ensure supplies reach regions where they are most needed.