Trump Claims US Could Have Eliminated Iran’s Leadership Instantly

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States deliberately chose not to launch a military strike against Iran’s senior leadership during the funeral of the country’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, despite having what he described as the opportunity to do so. According to Trump, Washington refrained from taking such action in order to preserve the possibility of future diplomatic negotiations with Tehran.

Speaking in an interview cited by Axios, Trump said the United States had been closely monitoring the funeral proceedings, where many of Iran’s highest-ranking political and military officials had gathered. He argued that the concentration of senior figures at a single location presented an opportunity for a devastating military operation.

“They were all there,” Trump said. “With one strike, we could have wiped them all out. But we didn’t do it because there would have been nobody left to negotiate with.”

The US President suggested that the decision to avoid military action was a calculated one, intended to keep diplomatic channels open rather than eliminate Iran’s leadership. He indicated that allowing key Iranian officials to remain alive was viewed as essential if meaningful talks were to continue after a period of heightened tensions.

Trump also asserted that Tehran is now eager to reach an agreement with Washington following the recent escalation between the two countries. Citing the report carried by Axios, he claimed that Iran had been “badly devastated” by US actions and was now “begging for a deal” and was “desperate” to settle its differences with the United States.

According to Trump, both Washington and Tehran had agreed to pause discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme for approximately one week during the period of mourning and funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei. He said the temporary suspension was intended to allow Iran to complete the official mourning process without disrupting diplomatic prospects.

Trump added that the understanding between the two sides also included avoiding military attacks against one another during that period, describing the pause as a practical measure designed to reduce the risk of further escalation while maintaining the possibility of renewed dialogue.

The US President also questioned the public displays of grief seen during Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral. He said he was surprised by the scenes of widespread mourning because, in his view, many Iranians had not supported the late leader.

“Perhaps it was fake crying,” Trump remarked, suggesting that the emotional scenes witnessed during the funeral might not necessarily have reflected genuine public sentiment.

Trump’s comments are among his latest outspoken remarks on US-Iran relations, a relationship that has long been marked by deep mistrust, diplomatic disputes and recurring security tensions. His latest claims have once again highlighted the sharp rhetoric surrounding the two countries, although the interview did not include any independent evidence to support his assertions regarding Iran’s intentions or the authenticity of public mourning.