India, Feb. 1 -- Amid a fresh strain in ties with the US, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a rare public appearance on Saturday as he visited the shrine of Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic republic's founder in southern Tehran.

A day later, he issued a fresh warning to the US amid President Donald Trump's military strike threats, saying there would be a "regional war" in the Middle East in case of an attack.

"The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war," Khamenei was quoted as saying. His latest remark is being seen as the most-direct threat he has made amid escalating tensions with the US.

"(Trump) regularly says that he brought ships (...) The Iranian nation shall not be scar...