Iran War Drives Saffron Prices to Record Highs

AOL.com reported Monday that the ongoing war in Iran has sent saffron prices surging to near double their pre-conflict levels. London businesses that rely on the prized spice are now grappling with costs they cannot easily absorb.

The World’s Priciest Spice Gets Pricier

Iran produces roughly 90% of the global saffron supply. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, imposed after Tehran closed the shipping lane in response to US and Israeli strikes, has severely restricted exports. One west London Persian restaurant owner said the price per kilo has climbed from approximately £1,200 before the conflict to between £2,000 and £2,100 now.

Dilman Mahmoud, owner of Sadaf restaurant, told AOL.com he has not yet passed those costs on to diners. He described saffron as irreplaceable, noting that roughly 85% of his menu depends on the spice. It appears in marinades, rice dishes, and even ice cream.

Also Read: Oil Markets Rattle as Hormuz Closure Threatens Global Shipping

Why Saffron Is So Hard to Replace

Saffron is harvested from the Crocus sativus flower, which blooms for only a few weeks annually. Each flower yields just three stigma threads. Producing half a kilo of the dried spice requires up to 250,000 flowers, all hand-picked. Iran’s dry, sun-drenched climate makes it uniquely suited for cultivation, and no region can quickly substitute for that output.

Moin Tiyari, who runs UK-based saffron supplier Zoetic Ltd, said grounded flights and a government internet shutdown inside Iran have effectively severed e-commerce links to Iranian farmers. His firm can now supply only 100 to 200 grams per order, far below what bulk traders need.

A Wider Food Squeeze

Saffron is not the only Iranian staple feeling the pressure. Mahmoud said his chickpea costs have jumped from £33 per box to £46. Zereshk, a dried tart berry essential to Persian rice dishes, has risen from £9.50 per kilo to £13. The cumulative effect is compressing margins across London’s Persian and Middle Eastern restaurant sector.

Peace Talks Stall as Prices Hold Elevated

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stalled. President Donald Trump publicly rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable.” Tehran’s plan, relayed via Pakistan, sought an immediate halt to fighting, an end to the naval blockade, war damage compensation, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled no intent to capitulate, stating that any dialogue would not constitute surrender. Until a resolution emerges, restaurateurs like Mahmoud say they have little choice but to wait and hope prices ease.

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