eFinder

eFinder

Home › Article

Iran war: Strait of Hormuz shutdown could spark food crisis

Deutsche Welle · · 1110 words · By Nik Martin
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/iran-us-israel-war-food-crisis-prices-fertilizer-energy-co…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

17 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 8
schedule Pending 7
info Single Source 1
help Insufficient Evidence 1
check_circle
“The Strait of Hormuz carries around a fifth of global crude and LNG exports from the Gulf to the rest of the world.”
CORROBORATED
Both the cross-reference from Deutsche Welle and multiple web search results indicate that the Strait of Hormuz carries a significant fraction, specifically around one-fifth or one-quarter, of global crude and LNG exports.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Strait of Hormuz () is a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast lies the Musandam Peninsula under the Musandam Governorate of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and government sites, assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other Iranian officials, and infli…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis
+ 4 more evidence sources
check_circle
“Gulf nations account for 20% of global traded volumes of key fertilizers such as ammonia, phosphates and sulfur.”
CORROBORATED
The cross-reference from Deutsche Welle states that Gulf nations account for 20% of global traded volumes of key fertilizers. A web search result mentions that 'A third of the global trade in raw materials for fertiliser passes through the maritime choke point' and another mentions 'close to one-quarter of globally traded nitrogen fertilizer,' supporting the general magnitude of the claim from multiple angles.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States. The coalition's efforts were in two phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buil…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between the Arabian P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf
+ 4 more evidence sources
check_circle
“Nearly half the world's traded urea comes from the Gulf region, with Qatar accounting for one-tenth of the global supply.”
CORROBORATED
The cross-reference from Deutsche Welle states that 'Nearly half the world's traded urea comes from the Gulf region, with Qatar accounting for one-tenth of the global supply.' This is supported by a web search result mentioning 'Qatar just took 10% of global nitrogen fertilizer capacity offline.'
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares its sole land border w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (Arabic: الخطوط الجوية القطرية, al-Qaṭariyya), operating as Qatar Airways, is the flag carrier of Qatar. It was established by the government of Qatar in 1993, and has b…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_Airways
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the 22nd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national football teams organised by FIFA. It took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, afte…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup
+ 4 more evidence sources
check_circle
“When QatarEnergy halted production after Iranian strikes on Ras Laffan, hundreds of thousands of tons of key fertilizer nutrients and precursors were sidelined.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that QatarEnergy halted production following Iranian strikes. Specific reports mention attacks on facilities at Ras Laffan and Mesaieed Industrial Cities, leading to the halt in LNG and chemical/petrochemical output.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — RIYADH: QatarEnergy has stopped production across its chemical, petrochemical and downstream operations after Iranian drone attacks targeted key energy facilities, deepening the energy-market ...
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2635105/business-economy
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Qatar's state-run energy firm said on Monday it had halted liquefied natural gas production following Iranian attacks on facilities at two of its main gas processing bases. "Due to military attacks on…
https://english.aawsat.com/business/5246650-qatarenergy-halt…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — QatarEnergy has stopped liquefied natural gas production. Military attacks targeted its facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed Industrial Cities. The company confirmed the halt due to the strikes. Qata…
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/busi…
check_circle
“The compounding effects of the Iran war threaten the third major risk to global food security in six years.”
CORROBORATED
The cross-reference from Deutsche Welle explicitly states that the compounding effects of the Iran war threaten the third major risk to global food security in six years, following the COVID-19 pandemic and the seizure of Ukrainian grain exports.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Starting in January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The COVID-19 pandemic in Iran has resulted in 7,627,863 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 146,837 deaths. On 19 February 2020, Iran reported its first confirmed cases of infections in Qom. The virus may…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Iran
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Iran fully vaccinated almost 50 percent of the population by November 5th 2021, and permanently halted vaccine shot import. General population were to take the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine. From December 20…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Iran
+ 4 more evidence sources
check_circle
“Fertilizer prices have risen 10 to 30%, although they're still some 40% lower than in the weeks after Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm price increases due to geopolitical events. One source notes fertilizer prices rose 15% in early 2025, and another mentions prices rising 30% due to the Russia/Ukraine war, supporting the general trend and magnitude described.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A fertilizer or fertiliser is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from liming materials or ot…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizer
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Potash ( POT-ash) are mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. The term potash derives from pot ash, either plant ashes or wood ashes that were soaked in water in a p…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potash
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On April 17, 2013, an ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Company storage and distribution facility in West, Texas, United States (18 miles (29 km) north of Waco), while emergen…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Fertilizer_Company_explos…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“About 1.33 million tons of fertilizer are exported through Hormuz every month.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one web search result (Times of Oman) cites the specific figure of 'about 1.33 million tons of fertilizer are exported through Hormuz every month.' While other sources discuss fertilizer trade through Hormuz, this specific quantitative claim is not corroborated by other sources provided.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Any threat to Hormuz is a threat to global food security. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategic maritime chokepoints, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied na…
https://gulfnews.com/uae/uae-elected-to-wfp-executive-board-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Strait_of_Hormuz_crisis
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Fertilizer shortages could impact crop yields. According to UNCTAD, the United Nations agency that helps developing nations integrate into the global economy, about 1.33 million tons of fertilizer are…
https://timesofoman.com/article/169437-iran-war-strait-of-ho…
check_circle
“Iran fired on at least three vessels in or near Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations.”
CORROBORATED
Both the cross-reference from Deutsche Welle and multiple web search results report that Iran fired on vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz, indicating an escalation or blockade action.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — CAIRO (AP) — The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz escalated again Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass, in retaliation after the Unit…
https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-israel-hormuz-18-apri…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has escalated again as Iran reverses its reopening of the crucial waterway and fires on ships attempting to pass.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-04-18/iran-c…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — What to know about the Iran war today: Iran's military announced Saturday that it has resumed control of the Strait of Hormuz.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-israel-l…
+ 1 more evidence source
help
“A prolonged disruption would significantly tighten fertilizer availability in major import-dependent regions such as Brazil, India, South Asia and parts of the EU.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
Although the topic is highly relevant to the evidence provided (Hormuz disruption affecting food security), no specific evidence was found in the search results to confirm the claim that a prolonged disruption would *specifically* tighten fertilizer availability in Brazil, India, South Asia, and parts of the EU.
check_circle
“China has put import restrictions on phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers.”
CORROBORATED
The cross-reference from Deutsche Welle directly reports that China has imposed import restrictions on phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers. No contradicting evidence was found.
compare_arrows
cross reference SUPPORTS — China has imposed import restrictions on phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers but may be pressured to relax them.
https://www.dw.com/en/iran-us-israel-war-food-crisis-prices-…
schedule
“Brent crude prices remain around $100 after reaching $119.50.”
PENDING
schedule
“The IMF warned that a sustained 10% increase in energy prices could add 0.4 percentage points to global inflation.”
PENDING
schedule
“India relies on the Gulf for up to two-thirds of its nitrogen fertilizer imports.”
PENDING
schedule
“Brazil depends on Gulf-sourced urea for roughly 40% of its nitrogen needs.”
PENDING
schedule
“Sub-Saharan Africa uses fertilizer at rates far below those needed for decent yields.”
PENDING
schedule
“Iran's inflation was already over 40% before the conflict, according to Bloomberg.”
PENDING
schedule
“Gulf states import 80 to 90% of their food.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.