US President Donald Trump has said the United States could eliminate Iran’s remaining leadership “with one shot” during the funeral of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but claimed Washington chose not to because it still wants to negotiate with Tehran.
In an interview with Axios, Trump suggested Iran’s top leadership had gathered for Khamenei’s funeral, saying the US had the capability to target them but would refrain from doing so. “They are all there. One shot and we can take them all out, but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with… They are begging to make a deal,” Trump said.
The US president also claimed both sides had paused military action during the funeral period.
“We gave them a week off for a funeral because we’re nice,” Trump said, adding that neither the US nor Iran would launch attacks while the ceremonies were underway.
‘I Thought People Hated Him’
Trump also expressed surprise at the large crowds mourning Khamenei, saying the scenes did not match his expectations.
“I thought people hated him,” he said after being shown footage from the funeral.
Asked about images of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appearing emotional during the ceremonies, Trump questioned whether the reactions were genuine.
- “Maybe it’s fake tears,” he said.
- Funeral Draws Massive Crowds
Khamenei, who led Iran for 36 years, was killed on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, triggering a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Although Islamic tradition generally calls for burial within 24 hours, Iranian authorities postponed the funeral because of the wartime situation and security concerns.
The funeral ceremonies began on July 4 and are scheduled to continue with religious events in the holy city of Qom before concluding with Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad on July 9. Millions of mourners have gathered across Iran, making it one of the most closely watched events in the region.
Mojtaba Khamenei Reportedly To Stay Away
Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son and successor, is reportedly not expected to attend the funeral ceremonies because of security concerns.
According to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, described as Mojtaba Khamenei’s representative in India, fears of Israeli threats and surveillance have made a public appearance “dangerous,” according to ANI.
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