WASHINGTON, D.C. — United States President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington had the capability to strike senior Iranian officials gathered for the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, but deliberately refrained from doing so to preserve diplomatic negotiations.
Speaking in comments reported by Axios on Saturday, Trump said those attending the funeral could have been targeted in a single strike but insisted the United States chose not to act because it wanted to keep channels for negotiations open.
"They are all there. One shot... but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with," Trump was quoted as saying.
Trump also asserted that Iran was "begging to make a deal" and revealed that both sides had agreed to pause negotiations for about a week while funeral activities concluded.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with diplomatic efforts continuing despite months of regional instability and military confrontations.
However, Trump's assertion that Iran is eager to reach a deal has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed his characterization of the negotiations.
The comments have drawn international attention, underscoring the fragile balance between military deterrence and diplomatic engagement as both countries continue to navigate one of the world's most volatile geopolitical rivalries.
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