Donald Trump cancels Camp David summit at last minute over safety fears as entire Cabinet rushed back to DC

But a looming storm over Washington DC meant Mr Trump's helicopter trip to the base, in the heart of the Catoctin Mountain Park, was called off.

Torrential downpours set to hit the US capital mean the 60-mile journey will be too dangerous.

The 125-acre compound, under constant guard from elite US Marines, serves as a highly secure location in which conversations can be held with a reduced risk of leaks.

Last June, Camp David played host to the President and his foreign policy team to discuss Iran and Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

Almost exactly two weeks later, American bombers were hurtling through the skies over Iran to rain bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites.

One administration official downplayed the talks, saying: "It's a chance to do it in a different venue from the Cabinet Room at the White House."

But now, all the President's men, including his outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, will join Mr Trump at the centre of a rainy DC on Wednesday.

Officially, those in attendance will discuss "recent successes of the administration including economy and small business wins, Task Force to Eliminate Fraud highlights, and foreign policy updates," according to a White House official.

But Iran is likely to dominate the talks after a series of US strikes on the south of the country on Monday.

US Central Command confirmed it had carried out numerous hits on the country's south in "self-defence" and to "protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces".

Centcom spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said the strike took place near Bandar Abbas, home to an Iranian naval base near the Strait of Hormuz.

Then yesterday, Tehran's chief negotiators delivered a major ultimatum to the US.

Iran will sign a peace deal with the States - but only if a staggering $24billion (£17.8billion) in frozen assets are released.

Mr Trump has been warned that accepting the deal would be tantamount to rewarding the Iranian regime.

But he took to Truth Social last night to rage at those who would downplay his achievements even if Iran completely surrendered.

He said: "If Iran surrenders, admits their Navy is gone and resting at the bottom of the sea, and their Air Force is no longer with us, and if their entire military walks out of Tehran, weapons dropped and hands held high, each shouting 'I surrender, I surrender' while wildly waving the representative white flag, and if their entire remaining leadership signs all necessary 'documents of surrender', and admit their defeat to the great power and force of the magnificent USA, The Failing New York Times, The China Street Journal (WSJ!), corrupt and now irrelevant CNN, and all other members of the Fake News Media, will headline that Iran had a masterful and brilliant victory over the United States of America, it wasn't even close."

The frozen assets Iran wants released include revenue from oil and gas sales which has been held banks abroad throughout years of American sanctions.

While these are primarily cash assets, they are also believed to include some property - and tot up to £74billion.

The Iranian cash is mostly held in Bahrain, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Luxembourg, Qatar, South Korea and Turkey.

In order to release it, Washington may have to waive sanctions and create a way to guarantee Tehran does not use the money to rebuild its nuclear programme.

"It's a deal he cannot take," a source close to the president told The Telegraph.