Starmer and Trump discuss need to reopen Strait of Hormuz after US president’s ultimatum

WorldPolitics
23 Mar 2026 • 4:40 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Keir Starmer and Donald Trump discussed the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global energy markets.
  • Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, threatening to 'obliterate' its power network if the vital waterway is not reopened by Monday night.
  • The Strait of Hormuz, responsible for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, has been effectively closed by Iranian attacks, leading to the worst oil crisis since the 1970s.
  • Iran's Revolutionary Guards have threatened to attack Israeli power plants and US bases in the Gulf if Trump carries out his threat.
  • Israel has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure in Tehran, following overnight air raid sirens and missile warnings across Israel and the occupied West Bank.

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