Middle East crisis live: Trump postpones military strikes on Iranian power plants for a five day period

US president says he has instructed his defence department against strikes following ‘productive conversations’Iran vows to destroy Middle East water and energy facilities if US attacks power plantsBritish 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...