Donald Trump has warned that a single missile strike could eliminate Iran's leadership gathered for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral — as the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba, was barred from attending the six‑day ceremony.
“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,” the US president told Axios. He said Iran were “begging to make a deal” and expressed surprise at the emotional crowds, adding: “Maybe it’s fake tears.”
“Trump warns a strike could kill Iran's leaders at Khamenei's funeral; new Ayatollah Mojtaba barred from attending.”
Political and religious leaders have been paying tribute to the former supreme leader at the start of days of public events. Foreign dignitaries from Iran’s allies — Russia, China and Pakistan — were also present. Security has been heightened on the streets, and airspace has been closed over the country ahead of funeral processions set to begin tomorrow.
Mojtaba, who took over as Supreme Leader after his father was assassinated in a US‑Israeli airstrike on February 28, had asked to perform rites over his dad’s body on the last day of the ceremony. But security officials warned the risk was too high and that they could not rule out Israel targeting the new dictator at the funeral. Even if Tel Aviv did not attack, they would probably track him to his secret hideout, sources from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps told the New York Times.
Mojtaba’s whereabouts are currently unknown. He has not been seen publicly since he was named Ayatollah, and is in deep hiding amid reports he was left severely disfigured from the US strikes that killed his father.
The late supreme leader’s funeral entered its second day on Sunday, with images showing scores of regime sympathisers gathering for the ceremonies.