US President Donald Trump has issued another sharp warning to Iran, claiming that the country's remaining top leadership could be eliminated in a single military strike. Despite the threat, Trump said such action would not be taken because it would leave no one available for future negotiations.

Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump suggested that key Iranian leaders were gathered during the funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, making them vulnerable to an attack. However, he maintained that Washington intends to pursue diplomacy rather than escalate the conflict further, adding that Iran is eager to reach an agreement.

Trump also revealed that both countries have informally paused discussions and military action while the funeral ceremonies are underway. According to him, neither side is expected to launch attacks during this period, allowing the mourning events to conclude before engagement resumes.

Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for more than three decades, was killed on February 28 after military operations carried out by the United States and Israel triggered a wider regional conflict. Because of the ongoing war, Iran delayed his funeral despite Islamic traditions that generally call for burial within a day of death.

The state funeral began on July 4 and will continue through July 9, with ceremonies taking place in several locations, including the holy city of Qom, before Khamenei is laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad. The events have drawn massive crowds from across the country, making them one of the most closely watched international developments in recent weeks.

During the farewell ceremony, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were seen becoming emotional as they paid tribute to the late leader. Reacting to visuals of mourners, Trump remarked that he had expected Iranians to dislike Khamenei and questioned whether the public display of grief was genuine.

Earlier this week, Trump had also said the United States had effectively given Iran "a week off" to complete the funeral rites before resuming negotiations, describing the pause as a gesture of restraint.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Iran's current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is unlikely to attend his father's public funeral ceremonies because of security concerns. According to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, Israeli threats and surveillance risks have made a public appearance unsafe, prompting heightened security measures around the events.