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Iran's Khamenei Says US "Deeply" Hated In Mideast

TEHRAN (AFP)--Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday that the nations of the Middle East shared a "deep hatred" of the U.S.

His latest salvo against Iran's arch-foe came as U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Cairo to deliver a much-heralded address to the Muslim world in a bid to heal a wide breach between America and Islam.

Khamenei spoke on the occasion of the 20th death anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led a revolution in 1979 that toppled the U.S.-backed shah and established an Islamic republic.

"The nations in the region hate the United States from the bottom of their hearts because they have seen violence, military intervention and discrimination," Khamenei said at the mausoleum of Khomeini.

"The new U.S. government seeks to transform this image. I say firmly, that this will not be achieved by talking, speech and slogans.

"They have done things that have deeply hurt the nations in the region ... action is needed and one cannot remove this deep hatred by words, speeches and slogans."

Khamenei was speaking to thousands of Iranians and several foreigners at the mausoleum on the southern outskirts of Tehran to mark Khomeini's death anniversary.

His speech came just over a week before Iran goes to the polls on June 12 to choose a new president.

  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  06-04-090259ET
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