An Iranian state newspaper has issued a death threat against Donald Trump, as fears grow of war between Iran and the US.

Kayhan newspaper is widely regarded as the voice of the most hardline factions in the country’s clerical establishment. Its editor is appointed directly by the supreme leader.

However, the death threat sparked outrage in Iran, with political figures warning that it gave the US president a pretext to strike their country.

In its “dialogue” column on Saturday, the newspaper wrote: “What’s up with this Donald Trump? Who does he think he is to threaten several countries every day? Threatening military attacks, sanctions, increasing tariffs…

“Any day now, in revenge for the blood of Martyr Soleimani, several bullets will be fired into Trump’s empty head and he’ll drink the cup of damnation.”

This was a reference to Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force. He was killed in a drone strike in January 2020, ordered by Mr Trump during his first term as US president.