Talks over plans to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem are at their “very beginning”, a White House spokesman has said.

Sean Spicer, President Trump’s spokesman, appeared to rule out early claims of an imminent change of location for his country’s embassy in Israel with a cautious statement issued on Sunday.

Asked about reports that the move would be speedily sanctioned by the new president, Mr Spicer said: “We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject.” 

The Trump administration is believed to be committed to the embassy relocation – but diplomatic sources are said to have indicated the move would not happen quickly.

Benjamin Netanyahu is believed to have raised the issue during a conversation with Mr Trump on Sunday – and the pair are due to meet in person in Washington next month.

But the embassy move was not believed to be the main focus of the telephone call between the duo – with Iran, Syria and peace efforts with the Palestinians said to be higher up the list of topics discussed.

European and Arab diplomats will repeatedly warn the new Trump administration that an Israeli embassy move could lead to a wave of violence in protest at the relocation – which would be viewed as a sign of a major change in US policy within the region.

There had been unconfirmed reports from Israel that an announcement on the embassy move could have been made as early as today – but this seemed increasingly unlikely.

The embassy is expected to become one of the first issues to be worked on by Jared Kushner – who is Mr Trump’s son-in-law and now his senior adviser.

While Israel has long wanted the US to move the embassy and has welcomed President Trump's pledge, top Israeli officials have said the issue is not the most important in the relationship.

Prior to his inauguration, President Trump had named New York lawyer David Friedman as his Israeli ambassador. There are proposals to allow Mr Friedman to work from Jerusalem, where he already has a home.

The 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act has called on the US to recognise the city as Israel’s capital and relocate there. But laws say the move can be waived if it is deemed to be harmful to US national security interests.

A spokesman for Hamas said any embassy move would be viewed as a “crime” which “crossed a red line”.