Trump 'shocked' by massive crowds at Khamenei's funeral

US President Donald Trump says he was surprised by the massive public turnout at the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, admitting he had believed the Iranian people "hated him."

In a telephone interview with Axios journalist Barak Ravid, Trump said the scenes of mourning in Tehran caught him off guard, describing the crowds as something he had not expected.

Trump also made a controversial claim during the interview, saying he could have "eliminated everyone" attending Khamenei's funeral if he had chosen to do so.

However, he said he refrained from such action because it would have left "no one to negotiate with."

According to Trump, both Washington and Tehran agreed to suspend talks until Khamenei's funeral ceremonies conclude. He added that neither side would launch attacks against the other while the funeral proceedings are underway.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of mourners have gathered in Tehran to pay their final respects to Khamenei, who Iran says was killed in a joint US-Israeli military strike. The six-day state funeral began on Friday at Tehran's Grand Mosalla complex, drawing massive crowds from across the country.

Iranian authorities said Khamenei was killed in an attack on February 28, along with several members of his family. Among the victims was his 14-month-old granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani.

During Friday's funeral ceremony, Khamenei's coffin, draped in the Iranian national flag and accompanied by his traditional black turban, was brought to the venue. Coffins of family members killed in the attack, including that of infant Zahra, were placed alongside his, with her framed photograph displayed nearby.

Crowds began gathering outside the Grand Mosalla complex on Friday evening, and by Saturday morning the venue had filled with mourners shortly after its gates opened.

According to AFP, many attendees carried red banners—a traditional Shia symbol of vengeance—while chanting slogans including "Death to America" and "We demand revenge."

Iranian officials said Khamenei's coffin will be taken on a six-day funeral procession through several cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq before the final burial.