Iran war could plunge 32 million into poverty, says United Nations

‘You push people back into poverty. That’s the most heartbreaking element,’ said the administrator of the UNDP. Photograph: Anton Alexander/The Guardian

More than 32 million people worldwide could be plunged into poverty by the economic fallout from the Iran war, with developing countries expected to be hit hardest.

In a report issued amid doubts over a fragile ceasefire, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the world was facing a “triple shock” involving energy, food and weaker economic growth.