Middle East crisis live: Iran dismisses Trump claim of talks; von der Leyen says global energy situation is ‘critical’

<p>Iranian parliament speaker says ‘no negotiations’ held with US, as Trump postpones energy strikes for five days; EC chief says war needs to come to negotiated end</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/23/trump-extends-iran-deadline-five-days-energy-infrastructure">Trump claims ‘productive’ talks with Iran but Tehran denies contact</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/23/israel-launches-new-strikes-on-tehran-as-trump-pauses-iran-energy-attacks">Israel launches new strikes on Tehran as Trump pauses Iran energy attacks</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>British prime minister Keir Starmer is set to chair an emergency meeting on the economic fallout from the war in Iran on Monday</strong>, with chancellor of the exchequer <strong>Rachel Reeves</strong> and Bank of England governor <strong>Andrew Bailey</strong> also attending, the UK government has said.</p><p>Financial markets face another turbulent week after Iran said it would <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/22/iran-says-destroy-middle-east-infrastructure-us-energy-sites">strike its Gulf neighbours’ energy and water systems</a> if <strong>Donald Trump</strong> followed through on his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/22/iran-donald-trump-48-hours-open-hormuz-strait">threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants</a> if it doesn’t fully open up the crucial strait of Hormuz.</p><p>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.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/mar/23/middle-east-crisis-live-iea-chief-says-ira