Former US president Donald Trump warns Iran of overwhelming retaliation if it responds to strikes that killed its supreme leader.

WASHINGTON: Former US president Donald Trump has threatened Iran with a level of force “never been seen before” if it retaliates for US and Israeli strikes that killed the country’s supreme leader.

Trump issued the warning on his Truth Social platform early Sunday, vowing to seek regime change in the Islamic republic.

“Iran indicated it was ‘going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before’,” Trump wrote. “THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

The bombing campaign followed a massive military buildup in the Middle East, the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Iranian state television confirmed on Sunday that the strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has since launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf. These reported attacks targeted locations including the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi and areas near regional US military bases.

Trump stated that the US bombing will continue “as long as necessary”. He added that Khamenei’s killing presents Iranians with their “greatest chance” for taking power from the current regime.

 The Sun Malaysia