President Donald Trump said he was surprised by the massive crowds that gathered in Tehran to mourn Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying he believed the Iranian leader was widely disliked.
“I was shocked. I thought people hated him,” Trump reportedly told Axios while commenting on the funeral procession.
Trump also claimed he had the military capability to escalate the conflict during the funeral but chose not to.
“I could eliminate everyone there, but then there will be no one left to negotiate,” he reportedly said, adding that discussions were paused until after the funeral, with both sides agreeing not to launch attacks during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, large crowds filled the streets of Tehran on Saturday, chanting “Death to America” as Iran vowed to “seek justice” following the U.S.-Israeli airstrike that killed Khamenei in February.