Trump taunts Iranian leader as thousands leave Tehran

Divide among inner circle over US involvement in attacks

- TOM WATLING

Donald Trump taunted Iran yesterday over the extraordinary prospect of US airstrikes on Tehran, after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected demands for unconditional surrender.

"I may do it. I may not do it," the president said amid a growing divide among his inner circle over whether to join Israel's attacks. "The next week is going to be very big," he teased as thousands fled the Iranian capital following the latest aerial bombardment, leaving many shops closed and streets empty.

Sir Keir Starmer chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on the Middle East crisis late yesterday, two days after he expressed confidence that Mr Trump would not join the unfolding war between Iran and Israel. The Foreign Office has evacuated family members of embassy staff from Israel, but has not advised British nationals to leave the country.