However, he said such a move would be avoided as it would leave no one to negotiate with.
"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... They are begging to make a deal," Trump told Axios.
Trump says talks paused during funeral
Trump said the United States and Iran had effectively agreed to a temporary pause in hostilities while Khamenei's funeral ceremonies are underway.
According to the US President, both sides have decided to "take a week off" from talks and military action until the funeral concludes.
"In the meantime, neither side will attack the other," he said, adding that the US had given Iran "a week off" out of goodwill.
"We beat Venezuela in one day, and we knocked the hell out of Iran; they're dying to settle. They want to settle so badly. We gave him a week off for a funeral because we're nice," Trump said.
Millions gather for Khamenei's funeral
Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for 36 years and was killed on February 28, the day the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering a wider conflict in the Middle East.
While Islamic tradition generally calls for burial within 24 hours, the ongoing war delayed the funeral arrangements.
The Western media told the world that the Iranian people despised their government and their Leader. Yet these scenes tell a different story. This is only the beginning of the funeral procession for Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the first wave of a human sea. The crowds have only just… pic.twitter.com/BjGeNjBwzL
— Hassan al-Qadri (@Hassan_alQadri) July 4, 2026
Iran began the funeral ceremonies on July 4, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
The observances include events in the holy city of Qom on July 7 before concluding with Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9.
Millions of Iranians have gathered across the country, making the funeral one of the most closely watched global events.
Iran continues to hold a state funeral for former leader Ali Khamenei, marking the end of more than three decades of his rule.
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) July 4, 2026
Reports say that more than 10 million people are expected to attend the six-day funeral. pic.twitter.com/IP3toxXdZK
During the farewell ceremony on Saturday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were seen in tears.
Reacting to the scenes, Trump expressed surprise.
"I thought the people hated him. Maybe it's fake tears," he remarked.
Mojtaba Khamenei may skip funeral
Meanwhile, Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly unlikely to attend his father's funeral due to security concerns.
Mojataba Khamenei. Photo: X viral image
According to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, Mojtaba's representative in India, Israeli threats and surveillance risks have made his public appearance "dangerous", ANI reported.