Earlier reports claimed that US President Trump had rejected a plan presented by Israel to the US to kill Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Discussing the conflict between Israel and Iran, the former vice president said Trump "ought to be looking elsewhere than Vladimir Putin for advice."

President Donald Trump is desperate not to fight a war with Iran. But can he really avoid it? Compelling national security arguments and domestic political considerations mean it makes sense to stop short of direct US offensive operations in the long-dreaded conflict that Israel describes as a matter of preserving its own existence.