'Incompetence and failure': Iran leader attacks Donald Trump over Jerusalem move

Iran's supreme leader has criticised Donald Trump for his decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and recognising the city as the nation's capital.

Ali Khamenei described the move as a sign of "incompetence and failure" and warned that it could stoke further tensions in the Middle East.

Officials in Washington confirmed that Trump intends to make the announcement later today (6 November), a move which has been welcomed by Israel while others in the region have reacted angrily.

US ally Saudi Arabia said that the changers were a "a flagrant provocation to Muslims".

Israel has long-regarded Jerusalem as its capital but Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The US is the first nation to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital since its establishment in 1948.

While Trump is expected to announce the decision later today, it is thought that the process of changing embassy locations from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would take a number of years.

Trump promised voters during the 2016 presidential campaign that he would move the embassy to Jerusalem.

Officials in Washington added that until the move to Tel Aviv is complete, Trump will continue to sign the waiver to the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, which mandates the move.

Trump has employed his real estate developer son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to help with the Middle East peace process.