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Sign InAssociated British Foods, the parent company of Primark, has reported a significant 18% decline in operating profits, highlighting mounting operational challenges. The retail giant is among the first major European retailers to officially warn that its future outlook is being hampered by the conflict in Iran. Management noted that they are closely monitoring a potential downturn in consumer spending driven by heightened geopolitical tensions. The company emphasized that regional instability is already weighing on consumer confidence and impacting overall operational costs. This warning marks a bearish shift for the UK retail sector as markets assess the broader implications of geopolitical risks on global trade. Consequently, the company's shares are facing downward pressure following the quantified profit drop and cautious forward-looking statements.