Iran has sparked nuclear weapon fears after issuing Donald Trump a stark warning. The Middle Eastern country will develop nuclear weapons if the US President launches military strikes against it, a senior official has declared. Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, says the US must "change its behaviour" after a build-up of armed forces on the joint UK-US base in the Chagos Islands, the Telegraph reports. “If they [the US] move toward bombing Iran themselves or through Israel, they will force Iran to make a different decision, which is also not in America’s interest,” Mr Larijani said.

“If the US makes a mistake regarding Iran’s nuclear issue, it will force Iran to move toward nuclear weapons because Iran must defend itself.” The aide highlighted that Iran abides by a religious edict issued by Khamenei that prohibits nuclear weapons development, and claimed that the state’s nuclear programme is still under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, Mr Larijani added that military action could alter this position.

He said: “We now say that we are not moving toward weapons, and the IAEA’s oversight can continue indefinitely.”

The advisor added: “However, if they [Americans] move toward bombing Iran themselves or through Israel, they will force Iran to make a different decision, which is also not in America’s interest.

“Therefore, by any calculation, this is not to their benefit. What we are saying is that America can find another way rather than confronting Iran and change its behaviour for once.”

It comes as suspected US air strikes have battered rebel-controlled areas of Yemen, with the Iran-backed Houthis claiming that one attack killed at least four people near the Red Sea port city of Hodeida.

Meanwhile, satellite images taken on Wednesday and analysed by The Associated Press show that at least six stealth B-2 Spirit bombers are now stationed at Diego Garcia.

This has been described as a highly unusual deployment.