Washington, D.C (US), July 5, 2026, BNN Web Staff: US President Donald Trump has made a series of provocative remarks about Iran, claiming the country’s remaining leadership could be eliminated “with one shot” while also expressing surprise at the large crowds mourning late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Speaking to Axios, Trump alleged that senior Iranian leaders had gathered for Khamenei’s funeral and said the United States had the capability to target them but chose not to do 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.
Trump also claimed that Washington and Tehran had agreed to temporarily pause discussions and avoid military action until the funeral ceremonies conclude.
Khamenei, who led Iran for 36 years, was killed on February 28 as US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran marked the beginning of a wider regional conflict. Owing to the ongoing war, Iranian authorities delayed the funeral despite Islamic traditions favouring burial within 24 hours.
Iran began the funeral ceremonies on July 4, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States. The multi-day rites include religious events in Qom before concluding with Khamenei’s burial in the holy city of Mashhad on July 9.
Millions of Iranians have participated in the funeral processions, with senior leaders, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, seen paying emotional tributes during the ceremonies.
Reacting to the images, Trump questioned the public display of grief.
“I thought people hated him. Maybe it’s fake tears,” he said.
The US President also repeated his claim that the United States had effectively given Iran “a week off” to complete the funeral rites.
“We knocked the hell out of Iran. They’re dying to settle. We gave them a week off for a funeral because we’re nice,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will not attend his father’s funeral due to heightened security concerns. According to his representative in India, persistent Israeli threats and the risk of targeted attacks have made any public appearance too dangerous.
