Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described Iran’s attacks against Iraqi bases hosting U.S. troops as a “slap” and stated: “what is important about confrontation is that the military action as such is not sufficient. What is important is that the seditious American presence in the region must end”. He further asserted that U.S. officials “keep insisting on negotiation, but these things are a prelude to intervention". President Rouhani underscored that “if America wants to commit another crime from now on, it must know that it will receive a stronger response”.