Iran was planning attacks on four US embassies when its top general was killed, President Donald Trump says.

When asked what threat led to last Friday's US drone strike, he told Fox News: "I can reveal that I believe it probably would've been four embassies."

The killing of Gen Qasem Soleimani, a national hero, came after days of protests at the US embassy in Baghdad.

But Democrats given intelligence briefings on the fatal strike say they have seen no evidence of embassy plots.

Mr Trump first made the embassy claim at the White House on Thursday and repeated it that night at a rally in Ohio. He was also backed up by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"We had specific information on an imminent threat and those included attacks on US embassies. Period, full stop," said Mr Pompeo as he announced new sanctions against Iran.

Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo have said he was responsible for the deaths of thousands.

American forces also targeted Abdul Reza Shahlai on 3 January, a key Iranian commander and financier living in Yemen, US media reported on Friday.

They quote unnamed US officials as saying that the secret mission did not result in the commander's death.

Washington has so far made no public comment on the reported US raid in Yemen.

His first comments on the matter were at an environmental event at the White House on Thursday, telling reporters he authorised the attack because Iran was "looking to blow up our embassy".

He also called it "obvious" that the protesters that attacked the US embassy in Baghdad days before Soleimani's death were organised by Iran.

"And you know who organised it. That man right now is not around any longer. Okay? And he had more than that particular embassy in mind."

Credit: BBC