Trump threatens to "blow the entire nation up" as Iran tensions escalate

While the US President has long issued threats to finish off the war for good through some kind of devastating attack, this has not yet come to pass.

Instead, the two countries have been trading occasional strikes in the Strait of Hormuz - with neither appearing to make any kind of decisive breakthrough.

Now, however, the regime’s highest operational headquarters has claimed that it has intelligence that the US plans to resume striking Iran.

It is also believed to have placed its military on high alert in anticipation of US strikes.

On Sunday Mr Trump told Fox News he was now in "deciding mode".

"Very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future," he hinted.

The President said he had three options on the table: "Wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal"

"My question is if and when do I blow the entire nation up?" he added.

Iran has again vowed it will attack American bases in the region if Mr Trump follows through.

And this time, it threatened not to exercise "restraint or decency" against its neighbours if they back US strikes on Iran.

One of those neighbours could be Saudi Arabia, which is waging a stumbling campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels which could have devastating consequences on Britain.

The RAC last week warned there was "no sign of any relief" for motorists in the UK after unleaded petrol prices rose by 5p a litre within a matter of days.

The group has launched missiles and drones against Saudi capital Riyadh after blitzing their way through to the Red Sea coast in Yemen earlier this month.

They now enjoy control over all shipping between the Red Sea and Asia, and could blockade the waterway if they so choose.

Iran is still blockading most shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on the other side of Saudi Arabia - meaning the country’s energy exports have been almost entirely cut off from global markets.

As a result, US embassies across the Middle East pushed out security alerts for Americans in the area warning of the "potential for unforeseen escalation" and urging "heightened vigilance".

"Be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions," the notice said.

The States’ virtual embassy in Iran warned: "Do not travel to Iran for any reason. US citizens should leave Iran now," in a security alert last night.