Trump’s tough talk on Iran: “We could wipe them out, but it’s not worth it”

The US president attacks Tehran but holds back on the use of force: “We need them for negotiations”. Talks temporarily suspended during Khamenei’s funeral

Donald Trump is taking a tough line with Iran, but in reality he is holding back. The US President asserts the possibility of striking Tehran, only to admit that he will not do so as it would jeopardise the negotiations: “One strike and we could wipe them all out, but we won’t do it because otherwise we’d have no one left to negotiate with.”

These remarks come as Trump closely follows the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US-Israeli raids on 28 February. In an interview with Axios, the president claimed that the Iranians “are begging to strike a deal” to bring the conflict to a definitive end.

Meanwhile, the parties have decided to suspend talks for a week, pending the conclusion of the funeral. The funeral ceremonies, which will last five days, are taking place in Tehran, where a huge crowd has gathered at the Grand Mosque to pay their respects to Khamenei and the members of his family killed in the attacks.

The images of the public outpouring of grief even surprised Trump himself: “I thought they hated him. Perhaps they’re fake tears,” he commented.

The Iranian Ministry of Health has stated that preparations have been underway for weeks, with field hospitals set up near the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla and medical teams on high alert. Other cities, including Qom and Mashhad, are also involved in managing the expected influx of people for the commemorations.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)