U.S. President Donald Trump says he is surprised by the scale of public mourning at Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral, telling Axios that he expected Khamenei to be widely unpopular. Trump also comments on seeing mourners cry, saying “Maybe it’s fake tears,” after stating he believed people “hated” him.
According to Trump’s remarks, the United States and Iran pause negotiations during the funeral period. He says both sides agree to “take a week off” and that neither side will launch attacks during that time, while the ceremonies continue across Tehran and other locations. Reports referenced by outlets describe large crowds on multiple days of public ceremonies, including international officials from many countries attending earlier events.
Other reporting cited notes that the funeral process includes moves of Khamenei’s remains and those of family members to religious sites in Iraq and burial in Mashhad, and that his surviving son, Mojtaba Khamenei, does not appear publicly. Some accounts also mention claims that crowds were compelled, though Trump’s comments focus mainly on the turnout and visible mourning. Public diplomacy and negotiation efforts are presented as continuing outside the agreed pause window.
