Government and private sector bodies in Italy, Ireland and Hungary have sounded the alarm over the near-total halt in maritime cargo shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a key international route for oil, gas and fertilizers — amid the escalating US-Israeli war against Iran, Politico reports.

"The attack on Iran has opened Pandora's box," Irish Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon told the Irish Independent, warning that rising fertilizer prices could come at the worst possible time — the planting season. The Middle East is also an important market for Irish food and drink exports. Heydon did not rule out government support packages for farmers and food producers, but said it is too early to discuss details.

Serious concern is also mounting in Italy. The country's largest farmers' association Coldiretti warned on Tuesday that "the disruption of trade routes due to the war involving Iran is already causing serious damage to exports." "The main problem concerns Middle Eastern markets, where the total value of Italian agri-food exports exceeds €2 billion," Coldiretti said, with particular concern over perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables and flowers. "The halt in maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf coincides with the peak of the flower export season," the association added.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Monday that Hungary will reinstate fuel price caps "to protect Hungarian families, Hungarian entrepreneurs and Hungarian farmers" amid what he called an "explosive rise in international oil prices."