Tehran has blasted French President Emmanuel Macron for using a fictitious name for the Persian Gulf, saying the mistake is as wrong as France's military presence in those waters.

On January 33 and under the direct order of President Donald Trump, the US army assassinated Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in a drone attack at Baghdad International Airport.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif once again echoed Tehran’s willingness to hold talks with Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries to promote regional security, and strengthen intra-regional relations.

Ieanian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said the US revealed its terrorist nature once again when it assassinated the hero of anti-terrorism campaign in the region, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and reminded the world that the terror attack should receive a global condemnation by every standard.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seyed Abbas Mousavi reminded the government of Canada that Tehran has been fully cooperative with all affected countries whose nationals have lost their lives during the plane incident of January 8, and called on Ottawa to avoid politicizing the incident.

Top Military Aide to the Supreme Leader Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi highlighted that last Wednesday’s ballistic strike against the US military bases in Iraq by Iran’s IRGC, which came in retaliation for Washington’s assassination of anti-terrorism hero Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, was unprecedented since the end of World War II.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warns against any attempt at taking political advantage of the recent tragedy involving unintentional shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane outside Tehran.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the assassination of a top Iranian commander disgraced the US as it had to own up to the "terrorist" action and see its image dealt a blow by Iran's retaliation.

Ayatollah Khamenei ordered Iranian state-run bodies and nongovernmental organizations to provide more aid to people affected by severe flooding in several cities and villages in southern and southeastern Iran.

The Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said the IRGC has dispatched necessary equipment to help in relief and rescue efforts in the flood-stricken areas of the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan.