US President Donald Trump took a swipe at Iran as Tehran officially began a six-day funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying Washington allowed the Iranians a week for the funeral because “we’re nice."
Speaking at a large gathering at Mount Rushmore ahead of the July 4 celebrations, Trump boasted about military victories against Iran in the recent war in the Middle East, claiming that Iran was dying to settle the conflict.
“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," he said, with the crowd erupting into thunderous cheer at the remarks.
His remarks came as Iran began six days of public funeral ceremonies for late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial salvo of the US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Khamenei was killed alongside several members of his family, including his daughter, son-in-law, infant granddaughter and daughter-in-law.
The United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear and government targets following weeks of escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US military bases, Israel and key energy infrastructure across the region, and disrupted shipping across the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a global energy crisis.
Khamenei’s funeral proceedings began after the US and Iran reached a framework agreement for a deal to end the war, even though tensions still persist between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Trump claimed a fresh threat to American identity ahead of the 250th independence celebrations, taking aim at domestic “radicals and extremists."
“As we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack," he said, citing a “resurgence of the communist menace in our land."
“In recent years there’s been an undeniable attempt to change this exceptional character, to beat the American spirit out of us, alienate us from our history," he added.
These remarks came as Trump’s approval ratings are near historic lows, fueled by the war in Iran and the skyrocketing cost of living, ahead of the crucial midterm elections in November.
