US-Iran War live updates: All ex-presidents deny Trump’s wild claim

Israel has claimed that one of the most senior members of Iran’s theocracy has been killed amid claims by Donald Trump that the new ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, may be dead or so seriously injured he is out of the picture.

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was said to have been killed in an overnight air strike.

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said Larijani was “in the depths of hell”.

All former US presidents have now denied claims by the current US president that one of them showered him with praise over his actions in Iran. I

“I’ve spoken to a certain (past) president. He said, ‘I wish I did it, I wish I did,’ but they didn’t do it. I’m doing it,” said Mr Trump on Monday, US time.

The most likely candidate to have praised Mr Trump, ex Republican George W Bush, told NBC they “hadn’t been in touch”.

European nations continuing to be a best lukewarm about helping the US escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks.

The continent is furious that Donald Trump did not consult them prior to his action in Iran but now is demanding help.

“This is not Europe’s war,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.

Mr Trump continues to claim that Iran’s military has been more or less wiped out. Tell the United Arab Emirates that. The Arab kingdom was forced to close off its airspace – again – after it was attacked.

Read on for more updates.