US president Donald Trump said that he was surprised to see thousands mourn slain Iranain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, and that just "one shot" could take out all the regime's leaders who've assembled at the funeral.
“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 told Axios yesterday.
"They want to settle so badly. We gave him a week off for a funeral because we’re nice,” the US president said.
Iran strongly criticised Trump's remark, terming it offensive in a strongly worded statement, defending the late supreme leader’s legacy.
"People can be killed, but ideals cannot. You killed Ayatollah Khamenei, but in reality, you broke a perfume bottle whose scent spread everywhere," Iran’s embassy in Yerevan said on X.
Khamenei’s coffin has been put on display under glass outdoors at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, along with those of his family members killed along with him in the US attacks in February, including his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter.
His son and new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who is said to have been injured in the same attack, has not been seen publicly.
Thousands of mourners have gathered at the courtyard of the Khomeini Grand Mosalla, with several waving the banners of the Islamic Republic and red flags, calling for revenge, and chanting "Death to America!".
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'One shot' can take out all Iranian leaders, Trump says
08:05 , Vishwam SankaranUS president Donald Trump said all of Iran's top leaders gathered to mourn slain leader Ali Khamenei were within reach.
“They are all there. One shot and we can take them all out, but we are not going to do that," Trump told Axios yesterday.
“We beat Venezuela in one day, and we knocked the hell out of Iran; they’re dying to settle. They want to settle so badly. We gave him a week off for a funeral because we’re nice,” the US president said.
Iran responded, defending Khamenei's legacy, comparing him to a "perfume bottle whose scent spread everyplace".
“People can be killed, but ideals cannot. You killed Ayatollah Khamenei, but in reality, you broke a perfume bottle whose scent spread everyplace," said Iran’s embassy in Yerevan.
Iran-US War
08:04 , Vishwam SankaranWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of the US-Israel war against Iran.
A six-day funeral for slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei is underway in Tehran.
You can follow the latest updates here
