US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has temporarily halted negotiations with Washington during the funeral ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He also made a controversial remark about the presence of Iran’s senior leadership at the funeral, suggesting they were all gathered in one place.
According to Axios, Trump said the United States was closely monitoring the funeral proceedings following Khamenei’s assassination in a joint US-Israeli military operation at the start of the conflict.
Trump claims Iran wants to resume talks
Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic process, Trump said Iran remained interested in returning to negotiations despite the temporary pause.
‘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 said.
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He further claimed that Tehran was eager to reach an agreement with Washington.
‘They are begging to make a deal,’ he said.
According to Trump, both countries had agreed to pause discussions until the funeral ceremonies conclude.
He also stated that ‘a week off’ had been taken from negotiations and claimed that ‘neither side will shoot at the other’ during this period.
Trump reacts to mourning in Tehran
Trump also commented on the large crowds attending the funeral in Tehran, saying he was surprised by the emotional scenes.
‘I was surprised to see some Iranians crying at the funeral,’ he said.
‘Maybe it’s fake tears,’ Trump added.
Thousands gather to pay final respects
Meanwhile, thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Saturday to attend the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
His body was placed at the Grand Mosalla prayer complex, where people carrying red flags, a symbol associated with revenge in Shiite Islam, arrived in large numbers to pay their respects.
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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 US-Israeli attack.
Crowds call for revenge
Several speakers and mourners at the funeral called for retaliation following Khamenei’s assassination.
‘We have come not for the funeral but for revenge,’ a eulogist declared during the ceremony.
‘We’re never going to give up your blood, which is the reddest line,’ the speaker added.
Many attendees echoed similar sentiments.
‘We must rise up and, God willing, avenge the blood of our leader,’ 18-year-old student Hamidreza Shabani said.
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.
Mojtaba Khamenei yet to appear in public
During the funeral, portraits of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, were displayed among the crowds, while supporters also waved Hezbollah flags. Security remained tight around the Grand Mosalla complex as thousands queued to pay their respects.
Following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father as Iran’s new Supreme Leader.
However, he has not made any public appearance since reports emerged claiming that he was injured in the same strikes that killed his father. Iranian authorities have not officially commented on his condition or confirmed those reports.
First published on: Jul 05, 2026 11:20 AM IST
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