BREAKING: President Donald Trump said he monitored the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and claimed the United States knew senior Iranian officials would be gathered in one place, but said Washington chose not to act because it wanted to preserve the possibility of future negotiations, according to a report by Axios.
Speaking about the gathering, Trump suggested the concentration of Iran’s political and military leadership presented a potential military opportunity, but said the United States deliberately refrained from taking action.
“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 said.
The remarks underscore Trump’s view that maintaining diplomatic channels remains strategically important despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran. While emphasizing U.S. military capabilities, Trump indicated that eliminating Iran’s senior leadership would undermine any chance of reaching a negotiated agreement over the country’s nuclear program and broader regional disputes.
Trump also claimed that Iran is eager to resume diplomacy with the United States.
“They are begging to make a deal,” he said.
According to Trump, both sides have agreed to temporarily pause negotiations until after the funeral ceremonies for Khamenei conclude, with talks expected to resume after approximately one week.
The reported pause comes amid heightened regional tensions and continued international attention on the future of U.S.-Iran relations. Negotiations have focused on issues including Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions, regional security, and broader diplomatic engagement following months of escalating rhetoric and military activity.
Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed Trump’s characterization of the discussions or his assertion that Tehran is “begging” for a deal. Likewise, there has been no official Iranian acknowledgment of an agreement to suspend negotiations until after Khamenei’s funeral.
If confirmed, the pause would represent a temporary delay rather than a collapse in diplomatic efforts, with both sides potentially preparing to resume indirect talks once the period of national mourning has concluded.
Trump’s comments, first reported by Axios, reflect his continued emphasis on combining military deterrence with diplomatic leverage, arguing that while the United States possesses overwhelming military capabilities, negotiations remain the preferred path for addressing long-standing disputes with Iran.
