Fears are mounting that the UK could face serious disruption as tensions linked to the Iran conflict intensify, with experts warning of cyber attacks, energy instability and wider security risks.
According to security analysts, the threat to Britain is “very real”, particularly as cyber warfare increasingly becomes a central tool in modern conflicts. Recent reports indicate that Iran has escalated cyber activity, targeting businesses and digital infrastructure, raising concerns about potential spillover effects beyond the Middle East.
Professor Anthony Glees, a leading expert on security and politics, warned that a hidden cyber conflict has already been underway. He said: “a cyberwar has been waging beneath our radar here in the UK since October 7 2023”, adding that the situation “could get a whole lot worse”.
Highlighting the scale of the threat, he pointed to breaches in Israel’s highly advanced cyber defences, noting: “This is fairly horrifying because we have always believed that the Israelis were the most effective cyberwarriors in the world.”
The warning comes as cyber attacks linked to Iranian groups have reportedly targeted companies and critical systems, underlining the growing role of digital warfare alongside traditional military operations.
Although the UK is not directly involved in military action, the consequences of cyber attacks are already being felt. A recent incident affecting a US medical firm disrupted supply chains, delaying deliveries of essential equipment such as defibrillators and medical supplies to UK hospitals.
NHS Supply Chain said: “NHS Supply Chain have continued to work with Stryker over the weekend to minimise disruption from the cyber attack as the company seeks to restore its IT systems.”
Experts stress that while direct attacks on UK citizens remain limited for now, indirect risks are significant due to the interconnected nature of global systems.
Professor Glees cautioned that Britain could already be a target, stating: “We rightly did not choose to go to war with Iran, but Iran can choose to go to war with us.”
He also referenced warnings from UK intelligence, noting that multiple Iranian-backed plots have been uncovered in recent years, alongside cases of espionage and sabotage within the country.
Cybersecurity specialist James Bore added that such developments are not unexpected, describing cyber operations as “a standard component of modern conflict”. However, he warned that indirect consequences could escalate rapidly in a “deeply interconnected” world.
Beyond cyber threats, the conflict has also raised alarm over global energy supplies. Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil — has intensified fears of disruption, rising prices and wider economic instability.
Attacks on oil tankers and warnings over shipping routes have further heightened tensions, with international leaders urging restraint and calling for the protection of global trade routes.
A joint statement from multiple nations said: “We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats… Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law.”
As military deployments increase and tensions continue to rise, analysts warn the situation could escalate further, with both cyber and physical risks growing in parallel.
Professor Glees summed up the uncertainty, warning that the UK must remain vigilant: “Either way, we need to be very, very careful here in the UK.”