Iran has long considered the US military presence in the region as a threat on its doorstep, especially after Trump pulled the US out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions.
Khamenei also criticized Trump for perpetuating a model for the Gulf Arab states that kept them dependent on the United States.
“The president of America proposed a model to these Arab countries, a model which, according to his own words, implies that without the United States, these countries would not be able to last for even 10 days.
“Even now, through their dealings, their behavior, and their proposals, the Americans continue to promote and impose this very same model, a model designed to make these countries dependent, so they cannot exist without US support,” Khamenei said.
