WAR-DRIVEN austerity is a storm about to hit Europe. Indeed, the first gales are already blowing through the political system.Energy prices are due to rise 13 per cent this autumn, a rise directly caused by the Iran war.In the short term, the Iran conflict has mainly raised living costs through energy and fuel prices, but European rearmament will keep the pressure on over a longer timescale, affecting households through increased taxes, borrowing costs, inflation and budget cuts over the coming decade.