Amid stalled US-Iran talks, President Donald Trump said Washington gave Iran “a week off” for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral processions. He said Tehran was eager to settle with the US after the recent war.
Speaking at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, Trump claimed that US pressure had “broken the spirit” of the Iranian leadership, leaving them “dying to settle.”
Trump asserted that the US had granted a temporary suspension of hostilities for humanitarian reasons, stating that “we are nice people.”
Quick answers to key questions
What did Trump say about Iran’s willingness to settle after Khamenei’s death?⌵
Trump claimed that Iran was ‘dying to settle’ with the U.S. and had been granted a ‘week off’ for Khamenei’s funeral, asserting that U.S. pressure had broken the spirit of the Iranian leadership.
Why did Trump assert that the U.S. granted Iran a suspension of hostilities?⌵
Trump indicated that the U.S. provided a temporary suspension of hostilities for humanitarian reasons, stating, ‘we are nice people.’
How are the funeral ceremonies for Khamenei structured across Iran and Iraq?⌵
Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies will last for a week, starting in Tehran, moving through Qom, and continuing to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, concluding with his burial in Mashhad on July 9.
What impact did Khamenei’s death have on U.S.-Iran negotiations?⌵
The U.S.-Iran peace talks are expected to resume after the funeral processions of Khamenei conclude, following indicated positive progress in previous meetings.
Should businesses be concerned about the financial implications of Khamenei’s funeral?⌵
Yes, reports suggest that businesses in Iran were reportedly ‘forced’ to contribute to the funeral expenses, with many compelled to provide services or resources during the ceremonies.
“We knocked the hell out of Iran. They’re dying to settle. They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral, because we’re nice,” Trump was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
The remarks came as funeral processions for Iran’s late Supreme Leader began in Tehran on Friday, with ceremonies expected to continue in Iran and Iraq before his burial on July 9.
The funeral ceremony began after Qatar and Pakistan concluded separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha on July 1, with “positive progress” reported on issues related to the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to Qatar’s foreign ministry official spokesperson.
The US-Iran peace talks will resume after the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader concludes.
The Qatar foreign spokesperson said, “The parties agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be scheduled at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader.”
Crowds at the funeral ceremony in Tehran chanted: “Death to America!” – reprising a cry that’s been common in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and US Embassy takeover and hostage crisis.
Ceremonies will continue through the weekend with the body lying in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla before a funeral procession through Tehran on Monday.
Further rites are scheduled in Qom and later in Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf before burial in Mashhad on July 9.
The gates of the Mosalla are expected to open to the public at 6 a.m.(local time) on Saturday, although organisers said there is a possibility of an earlier opening depending on circumstances.
