Rachel Reeves has condemned Donald Trump’s decision to go to war against Iran, describing it as a “folly” to launch military action without a clear exit plan.
In comments to the Mirror before travelling to Washington for the International Monetary Fund spring meeting, the chancellor renewed her criticism of the conflict and said she was “frustrated and angry” at the decision to attack Iran without being clear about the objectives.
The remarks add to a growing political debate over the consequences of the war, which has already pushed up oil prices and raised the prospect of a fresh rise in inflation across the west.
Reeves’ intervention comes as the UK government and international policymakers face renewed pressure to assess the wider economic impact of the fighting. Higher energy costs could feed through into household bills and business expenses, increasing concern about inflation at a time when many economies are still under strain.
The chancellor’s criticism focused on the lack of a defined end point to the conflict. Her warning reflects broader concerns that entering a war without a clear strategy for how it concludes can create additional instability, both in the Middle East and in global markets.
Her comments were made ahead of her trip to the US for the IMF spring meeting, where global economic conditions are expected to be a central topic. The meeting is likely to take place against the backdrop of the conflict in Iran and its potential effects on prices, growth and investor confidence.
The war has already prompted concern among policymakers because of the immediate rise in oil prices. That increase has raised the risk of renewed inflationary pressure across western economies, complicating efforts to keep price growth under control.
Reeves’ remarks underline how closely the conflict is being watched not only as a geopolitical crisis, but also as an economic threat with implications far beyond the region.
