"Restore this security. We want you to leave the region…not by means of war, but by taking the wise move. You will stand to benefit from this. Go down the path that benefits the region and the entire world," Rouhani said.

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.

In retaliation, Iran fired ballistic missiles at the U.S. military bases in Iraq, killing 80 American soldiers, raising the stakes in its confrontation with Washington amid fears of a wider war in the Middle East. (ILKHA)