Mark Barrie, head of debt advisory at Azets, warned that the ongoing war in Iran is making it more expensive for Bradford's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to borrow money—potentially leading to business closures. Mr Barrie said: "It is a tough time for SME businesses what with this and the knock-on effects of all the other pressures they are currently facing adding up to a big squeeze on margins, and it could well lead to casualties." He explained that while many SMEs believed borrowing costs would fall, most commentators now expect one or two interest rate increases instead. Mr Barrie said: "The worst case scenario now is that we are going to see some casualties, some businesses which will be seen in the insolvency and administration numbers." Azets, a business adviser specialising in SMEs, has an office in Bradford on Grammar School Street.