Middle East crisis live: Starmer and Trump discuss ‘essential’ need to open strait of Hormuz as Israel warns war will continue for weeks

2026-03-23 - 07:49

The British PM spoke with the US president overnight about the need to stabilise global energy markets after oil prices surged due to the war Iran vows to destroy Middle East water and energy facilities if US attacks power plants British prime minister Keir Starmer is set to chair an emergency meeting on the economic fallout from the war in Iran on Monday, with chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves and Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey also attending, the UK government has said. Financial markets face another turbulent week after Iran said it would strike its Gulf neighbours’ energy and water systems if Donald Trump followed through on his threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it doesn’t fully open up the crucial strait of Hormuz. Topics expected to be covered are the economic impact of the crisis on families and businesses, energy security and the resilience of industry and supply chains alongside the international response. Continue reading...