Iran has condemned Donald Trump’s plan to take control of Gaza and “forcibly displace” its residents, calling it “an unprecedented attack” on international law and the UN Charter.

The Islamic Republic’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, described the plan as “shocking” and a continuation of efforts to “annihilate the Palestinian nation.”

He called on the international community to support “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” and to free them from what he termed “occupation and apartheid.”

Mr Trump, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening, said “the US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it.” He also discussed “permanently” moving Palestinians out of Gaza.

His comments sparked immediate international backlash, with the United Nations warning against “ethnic cleansing” in the Palestinian territory. Arab governments joined in the criticism, as did Sir Keir Starmer, who said Palestinians “must be allowed home”.

The US administration appeared to later soften its stance, with Washington’s top diplomat Marco Rubio suggesting any population transfers would be temporary rather than permanent.

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