The Iranian Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, has slammed US President Donald Trump over his remarks on the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accusing him of lacking “civilisation,
history, and honour.”
In a post on X, the embassy wrote, “People can be killed, but ideals cannot. You killed Ayatollah Khamenei, but in reality, you broke a perfume bottle whose scent spread everyplace. You don’t understand these things because you have neither civilization, nor history, nor honor.” (sic).
The post came after Trump made controversial comments about Khamenei’s funeral and the ongoing state of US-Iran relations during an interview with Axios.
People can be killed, but ideals cannot. You killed Ayatollah Khamenei, but in reality, you broke a perfume bottle whose scent spread everyplace. You don’t understand these things because you have neither civilization, nor history, nor honor. https://t.co/TtWtNlzG3f
— IRI Embassy in Armenia (@iraninyerevan) July 4, 2026
According to Axios, Trump said he was following the funeral of Ali Khamenei, whom he claimed was assassinated on the first day of the war in a joint US-Israeli operation.
Trump claimed that Iranian officials were “begging to make a deal” but said both sides had decided to pause negotiations until the funeral events concluded. He also suggested that neither side would launch attacks during that period.
“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,” Trump said.
He also questioned the public mourning for Khamenei, saying, “I was surprised to see some Iranians crying at the funeral. I thought people hated Khamenei. Maybe it’s fake tears.”
MASSIVE FUNERAL UNDERWAY IN TEHRAN
Iranian authorities are expecting massive crowds for Khamenei’s funeral procession in Tehran on Monday after his body lay in state for two days at the Grand Mosalla religious complex.
Organisers said the procession would begin at 6.00 am local time and continue for 10 to 12 hours.
Thousands gathered at the Grand Mosalla on Sunday to pay their respects to Khamenei and four members of his family, who were also killed in Israeli airstrikes on February 28, based on US intelligence.
Authorities have erected massive concrete barriers separating mourners from the coffin in an effort to prevent stampedes similar to those witnessed during the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Khomeini’s funeral attracted around 10 million mourners, with crowd surges killing more than 10 people and injuring over 10,000.
Authorities are seeking to avoid a repeat of those scenes during Khamenei’s funeral procession.
CEREMONIES TO CONTINUE ACROSS IRAN AND IRAQ
AFP reported that Monday’s procession in Tehran will be followed by funeral events in the clerical city of Qom on Tuesday, Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, and Khamenei’s burial in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday.
The funeral ceremonies have also become an opportunity for Iranian authorities to project resilience following five weeks of conflict with Israel and the United States.
Parliament Speaker and Iran’s chief negotiator with the US, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, wrote on X that the “proud and invincible nation of Islamic Iran unanimously” paid tribute to its “martyr.”
Three of Ali Khamenei’s sons made a rare public appearance during Sunday’s funeral ceremonies, while Mojtaba Khamenei remained absent.
Mojtaba, who was named Supreme Leader after his father’s killing, has not appeared in public since the February 28 airstrikes. Officials have said he was wounded, although the extent of his injuries remains unclear.
Senior military figures, including Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi and Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani, also attended the ceremonies, while none of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s surviving predecessors was seen.
CALLS FOR REVENGE GROW
The funeral has also featured calls for retaliation.
“The killers (of Khamenei) must face punishment,” a 38-year-old man identified by the surname Miremadi told AFP.
A 39-year-old woman identified by the surname Bakand said, “We back our revolution and our leader, and we demand revenge for the blood of our loved ones.”
According to AFP, Iranian authorities are also using the funeral to demonstrate public support for the Islamic Republic following anti-government protests earlier this year.
Delegations from Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have also attended the ceremonies, reflecting the regional alliances maintained by Khamenei during his decades-long rule.
