Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remarked that “the lifting of sanctions is in the hands of the enemy, but nullifying them is in our hands… of course we do not mean that we should not seek to have the sanctions lifted, because if the sanctions can be lifted, we should not hesitate for even an hour”. Khamenei also predicted “severe slaps to come”, referring to “expelling the U.S. from the region”; he further indicated that “revenge must be taken on those who ordered the [January 2020] murder of General Soleimani as well as those who did it”. “Do not trust the enemy”, Khamenei warned. “The hostilities are not particular to Trump’s America for this to end when he leaves office”.