According to a report by Al-Jazeera on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Trump, the president of the United States, has spoken out about his shock at the outpouring of grief for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, stating that he had anticipated the Iranian people to shun the departed leader rather than pay tribute to him.
During a phone conversation with Barak Ravid of Axios, Trump expressed his shock at the sights of Khamenei’s public funeral, which drew tens of thousands of mourners in Tehran and other cities.
Trump expressed his shock. “Here I thought everyone despised him.”
Earlier this year, amid the confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, Khamenei was slain. The remarks were made as Iran started a week-long burial ceremony for him.
Large crowds have flocked to state-sanctioned funerals for the former supreme leader, who has been the target of anti-American and anti-Israeli chants. Despite years of political turmoil and economic hardship, Iranian authorities have depicted the turnout as proof of national unity and ongoing support for the Islamic Republic.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump made the contentious argument during the interview that the US could have targeted the mourners at the funeral but decided not to.
Trump allegedly threatened to remove all residents of the area, saying, “I could eliminate everyone there.” He went on to say that if he did so, “no one left to negotiate.”
After weeks of heightened military tensions, the US president implied that Washington had chosen caution to maintain the chance of resumed diplomatic contact with Tehran.
Trump claims that US and Iranian officials have agreed to hold off on negotiations until after the funeral.
As the grieving period continues, he stated, “Neither side will shoot the other during the funeral proceedings,” suggesting that the two sides were observing an informal ceasefire in hostilities.
Even if formal discussions between Washington and Tehran have been suspended, recent reports suggest that indirect connections are still ongoing.
Following the funeral, the two sides are scheduled to resume negotiations, with topics including regional security, sanctions relief, and Iran’s nuclear program likely to be the main points of discussion. Resumption of hostilities in the Gulf is now less likely thanks to a temporary de-escalation deal.
Among Iran’s most anticipated public gatherings of late, the funeral has grown in size and prominence.
Officials in Iran anticipate that millions of people will attend the funeral services for Khamenei, which will be held in multiple places. The government has also warned that any military activity during the mourning period would be met with a strong reaction.
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