The funeral rites for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have drawn an unprecedented sea of humanity to the streets of Tehran, leaving international observers and world leaders stunned. Among those expressing disbelief is United States President Donald Trump, who reacted to the massive turnout with visible surprise. Khamenei passed away on February 28 following a joint military strike by Israel and the United States. Since then, the Iranian capital has been engulfed by millions of mourners who have gathered to pay their final respects to the departed leader.
Trump's Reaction and the Axios Interview
In a recent interview with Axios, President Donald Trump revealed that he has been closely monitoring the funeral proceedings in Tehran. Trump admitted that the sheer scale of the crowd left him shocked, as it contradicted his previous assessments of the Iranian political landscape. He stated that he had expected Khamenei to be deeply unpopular within his own country. Trump remarked that he had thought the Iranian people hated Khamenei, but seeing the millions of people flooding the streets of Tehran forced him to reconsider. While observing the emotional scenes of people weeping in grief, Trump suggested that these might be fake tears, though he couldn't hide his astonishment at the visual evidence of the massive gathering.
Claims of Iran Seeking a Diplomatic Deal
Beyond his reaction to the funeral, President Trump made significant claims regarding the current diplomatic stance of the Iranian government, while he asserted that Iran is now eager to resume negotiations and is Basically begging for a deal. According to Trump, both sides have reached a temporary understanding to suspend any further military actions or discussions until the funeral rites are fully completed. This pause in hostilities is intended to allow the mourning period to pass before any potential diplomatic engagement resumes.
The One Bullet Statement and Leadership Security
During the interview, the US President also touched upon the strategic opportunities presented by the funeral, where many of Iran's top officials are gathered in one location. Trump noted that the US has the capability to target the entire Iranian leadership present at the ceremony, while he was quoted as saying that they're all there and could be eliminated with one bullet, but he clarified that the US wouldn't take such action. He explained that maintaining the current leadership is necessary because, without them, there would be no one left to negotiate with in the future. He reiterated that both sides have agreed not to launch attacks during the funeral period.
Scale of the Funeral and Public Sentiment
The scale of the gathering in Iran is immense. The Iranian Ministry of Health has estimated that approximately 15 million people could participate in the final viewing and funeral ceremonies over a period of 2 to 3 days. To manage such a massive influx, temporary hospitals have been established near the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where the casket of Khamenei, along with the bodies of other family members, has been placed for public viewing. The atmosphere in the crowd is one of intense emotion and political defiance. Mourners dressed in black were heard chanting slogans such as Death to America and Death to Israel. Some participants carried posters calling for the assassination of Donald Trump, while the cry for revenge echoed through the streets. Iranian officials have publicly vowed to seek justice for the air strikes conducted by the US and Israel.
The Absence of Mojtaba Khamenei
A notable detail from the funeral proceedings is the absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader and the newly designated Supreme Leader. Mojtaba has not been seen in public since the conflict intensified in late February, while reports suggest that he was injured in the same attack that claimed the lives of his father, mother, and wife. Since that incident, he has only communicated through written statements released via Iranian state media. While officials have announced funeral programs in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, there is no scheduled public appearance for Mojtaba Khamenei. Security advisors have reportedly restricted his movements due to fears that Israel might target him if he appears in public.