As Iran began a week-long farewell for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the US-Israel conflict on February 28, US President Donald Trump took a swipe at Tehran, saying Washington had allowed Iran "a week off for a funeral" because America is "nice".
Speaking at a large gathering at Mount Rushmore ahead of the July 4 celebrations, Trump referred to the recent conflict with Iran and reiterated his administration's military action against the Islamic Republic.
"We knocked the hell out of Iran. They're dying to settle. They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral because we're nice," Trump said, drawing loud cheers and laughter from the crowd.
Trump was addressing supporters at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, where the faces of four American presidents are carved into the granite mountain, as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
His remarks came as Iran commenced state funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, whose burial was delayed because of the conflict and security concerns.
Khamenei's delayed funeral
Khamenei was killed on February 28 during the opening phase of the US-Israel conflict in a joint US-Israeli airstrike that also claimed the lives of several members of his family, including his daughter, son-in-law, infant granddaughter and daughter-in-law.
Although Islamic tradition generally calls for burial within 24 hours, Iranian authorities postponed the funeral because of the war and heightened security concerns. The ceremonies were scheduled only after an interim truce was reached last month.
The funeral began in Tehran on Friday, with thousands of mourners gathering at the Grand Mosalla Prayer Grounds, where Khamenei's coffin was placed in state. The ceremony was attended by senior Iranian political and military leaders, many of whom were visibly emotional while paying their respects.
Among those present were President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Thousands of mourners dressed in black filled the prayer hall, chanting slogans, weeping and beating their chests in accordance with Shiite mourning traditions.
The week-long procession will take Khamenei's remains to the holy city of Qom before travelling to the Iraqi shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala. He is scheduled to be buried with full state honours in Mashhad on July 9 near the shrine of Imam Reza.
The ceremonies have drawn delegations from several countries, including India, Pakistan, Russia and China, as Iran navigates the political and security fallout following the death of its longest-serving Supreme Leader.
US marks 250 years of independence
Meanwhile, celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence gathered momentum across the United States on Friday, with patriotic events taking place nationwide despite extreme heat in several regions.
Addressing the crowd at Mount Rushmore, Trump described the occasion as "one of the most extraordinary days in the history of the world."
In Washington, fighter jets conducted military flyovers, while New York City's Times Square prepared for its first-ever July Fourth midnight ball drop, modelled on its iconic New Year's Eve celebration.
