"What is important is that the corruptive presence of the United States in the region must come to an end. The region does not accept the U.S. presence anymore," Khamenei said.

Speaking on the personality of Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the US forces on January 3, Khamanei said: " Gen Soleimani was a man using logic in his actions, he was prudent not in the battlefields but in the area of politics. Some are brave but are not wise and prudent enough like Gen Soleimani to show their braveness."

Soleimani and the acting commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) - known as the Hash al-Shaabi - Abu Mahdi Al-Mohandes were targeted and assassinated by the US forces while they were separately leaving Baghdad airport in two cars on January 3. (ILKHA)