Agencies | Washington/Tehran:
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has temporarily paused negotiations with Washington during the funeral ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while making a controversial remark about the gathering of Iran’s top leadership.
According to Axios, Trump said he was closely monitoring the funeral of Khamenei, who was assassinated on the opening day of the recent conflict in what has been described as a joint US-Israeli operation.
“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,” Trump was quoted as saying.
The US President also claimed that Tehran remained eager to resume diplomacy despite the temporary suspension of talks.
“They are begging to make a deal,” Trump said, adding that both sides had agreed to take “a week off” from negotiations until the funeral ceremonies concluded.
He further claimed that “neither side will shoot at the other” during the pause, though there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding such an understanding.
Trump also expressed surprise at the emotional scenes from Tehran.
“I was surprised to see some Iranians crying at the funeral,” he said, before adding, “Maybe it’s fake tears.”
Thousands Gather for Khamenei’s Funeral
Trump’s remarks came as tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday to pay their final respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with many chanting slogans calling for revenge.
Khamenei’s body lay in state at the Grand Mosalla prayer complex, where crowds carrying red flags—widely regarded in Shiite Islam as symbols of vengeance—streamed in to attend the funeral.
“We have come not for the funeral but for revenge,” a eulogist declared during the ceremony, according to AFP.
“We’re never going to give up your blood, which is the reddest line,” the speaker added.
The coffin, draped in the Iranian national flag, was placed on a raised platform following Quran recitations. It stood alongside the coffins of several members of Khamenei’s family who were also killed in the reported US-Israeli strike.
Many mourners echoed calls for retaliation.
“We must rise up and, God willing, avenge the blood of our leader,” 18-year-old student Hamidreza Shabani told AFP.
Another mourner, Reza, a 37-year-old university professor, said, “We came because we promised the supreme leader we would stay with him until the end.”
“All these people are here for him. We shouted for a long time that we would sacrifice our lives for the leader, but he was the one who sacrificed himself for us,” he added.
Portraits of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, were visible across the gathering, while supporters also waved Hezbollah flags during the ceremony. Security remained tight around the Grand Mosalla complex as mourners queued to pay their respects.
Leadership Transition
The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marks a significant turning point in Iran’s political and religious leadership. His son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has succeeded him as the country’s new Supreme Leader.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not made a public appearance since reports emerged that he was injured in the strikes that killed his father. Iranian authorities have not officially commented on his reported condition.
