LONDON

Sweden’s foreign minister on Tuesday voiced concern over the Middle East conflict, warning that the war involving Iran shows "no de-escalation."

Speaking to parliamentary journalists, Maria Malmer Stenergard said the ongoing war involving Iran could last for months rather than weeks.

"We do not see a de-escalation but rather a development in the opposite direction, that is, towards a major war in the region," she was quoted by the country's state broadcaster SVT as saying.

Stenergard warned that it would have "enormous consequences," pointing to impacts on petrol prices, arms deliveries to Ukraine, and "increased revenue for the Russian war treasury."

According to the report, the Swedish government has previously developed three possible scenarios, the most serious of which assumes the war will be long-lasting and have a major impact on the Swedish economy.

The US and Israel have maintained airstrikes on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.