Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the Finnish government is closely monitoring the situation and analyzing its effects on Finland. He described the situation as "really very difficult" because the war in Iran causes huge price pressures on energy, already visible at gas and diesel pumps. Orpo noted that rising fuel prices will also affect other prices, such as transportation costs, with a small delay. The government takes the situation seriously and intends to have a thorough discussion on the topic, Orpo said, adding that they will see if there are some means to act that they can afford and are able to do. He did not want to comment on specific measures such as lowering fuel taxes or reducing the distribution obligation. Investigation work is being done continuously, he said. The government will convene for an evening school on Wednesday, with the agenda including the framework session and the impact of the Iran situation on Finland's economic development and Finns. Orpo emphasized that the energy price is an "acute" matter and its handling cannot be left to the framework session over a month away. "We assess the situation and see if there are any means we can do to ease the situation," he said.
Orpo expressed hope that the conflict in Iran would end as soon as possible. He said he hopes it is widely understood also in the United States that if prolonged, this conflict will affect the world economy very severely, and that is not in their interest either. "A quick solution to this should be found," he added.
Now we have gone from the main scenario of limited impact to the scenario of significant impact on the Swedish economy.
In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the government believes the Iran war will have a "significant impact" on the Swedish economy. According to Kristersson, they have moved from the main scenario of limited impact to the scenario of significant impact. The war in Iran could drive up energy prices significantly. Kristersson said the government can lower the threshold for when electricity support is paid out, but according to Expressen, he described that they will not do that automatically, only if the situation threatens Sweden's economic recovery.
But we don't do that automatically, only if this could have such effects that the Swedish recovery is threatened.