Iranian leader accuses Bush of hate campaign

"We recommend they ... leave the region as soon as possible and keep their relations with Islam and regional states at a distance," Jafari was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency in his first public remarks since his appointment.

Khamenei said he had appointed Jafari on Saturday to head the Guards, an ideologically motivated force that sees itself as the guardian of the Islamic Republic. The Guards have a separate command structure to the regular military.