Trump says US gave Iran ‘week off’ during Khamenei funeral ceremonies

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House on June 29, 2026. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images North America / AFP) U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington had given Iran “a week off” during funeral ceremonies for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while claiming Tehran is eager to reach an agreement with the United States. Trump made the remarks during a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, where he opened events marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. His comments came as Iran began dayslong funeral ceremonies for Khamenei in Tehran, drawing large crowds at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla. “We knocked the hell out of Iran. They’re dying to settle. They want to settle so badly,” Trump said, referring to recent U.S. military action against Iran. “We gave them a week off for a funeral because we’re nice.” Trump did not explain whether he was referring to a formal pause in talks, a pause in military operations, or a broader halt in U.S. pressure on Tehran. The White House had not immediately issued a public clarification, and Iranian officials had not publicly confirmed Trump’s claim that Tehran is seeking a settlement on Washington’s terms. The remarks followed months of conflict and negotiations involving Iran, the United States and regional mediators. Reuters reported this week that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had concluded indirect technical talks in Doha focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the release of Iranian funds, but without clear progress toward a lasting agreement. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the next meeting would take place after Khamenei’s funeral processions. Khamenei was killed in a February airstrike at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to Reuters and the Associated Press. His funeral ceremonies began Saturday in Tehran and are expected to continue for several days before burial. Iranian state-linked ceremonies have presented the funeral as a show of national mourning and political unity, while chants against the United States and Israel were reported among mourners. The U.S. and Iran have continued indirect diplomacy through mediators despite deep disagreements over Tehran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, regional security and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that recent talks focused mainly on maritime traffic and frozen Iranian assets, while U.S. officials said nuclear issues would be addressed later. Iranian officials have said any future negotiations must include guarantees against further military attacks and implementation of earlier understandings. Tehran has also denied some U.S. claims about the scope of nuclear commitments under discussion. Trump has repeatedly argued that U.S. military pressure has forced Iran toward diplomacy. Tehran, however, has not publicly accepted that characterization and has framed its position as resistance to U.S. and Israeli attacks. The funeral and Trump’s remarks come at a sensitive moment for both countries. Washington is seeking to keep diplomatic channels open after a period of direct military confrontation, while Iran’s leadership is using the mourning period to project continuity after the death of the man who led the Islamic Republic for decades. The post Trump says US gave Iran ‘week off’ during Khamenei funeral ceremonies appeared first on Khaama Press.