WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund warned that the six-month US-Iran conflict has pushed global economic uncertainty to its highest level in years, with sustained energy volatility threatening growth across emerging markets.

The Fund's assessment, released this week and reiterated by its economists on Saturday, pointed to disrupted Gulf shipping lanes and elevated oil prices as the primary drag on the world economy. IMF officials said Middle East supply risks remain the single largest downside threat to the 2026 outlook.

The warning followed months of hostilities that have rattled energy markets since the conflict began in March. Insurance premiums for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz have risen sharply, and several shipping lines have rerouted vessels to avoid the region, raising costs for importers in Asia and Europe.

IMF economists said inflationary pressure from higher fuel costs could force central banks to delay planned interest-rate cuts, complicating recovery in developing nations. They urged coordinated international action to stabilise energy supplies and protect vulnerable economies.

The IMF will present detailed revised forecasts at its autumn meetings in Washington, where finance ministers and central bank governors are expected to address the war's mounting economic toll.