'Gave them a week off': Trump takes a dig at Iran over 6-day funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

US President Donald Trump took a swipe at Iran, as the country officially began a six-day funeral service for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While taking potshots at Iran, Trump said that he allowed the West Asian nation a week for the funeral because “we’re nice."

While speaking at a large gathering at Mount Rushmore ahead of the July 4 celebrations, Trump boasted about military victories against Iran in the recent war. He went on to claim that Iran was "dying" to settle the conflict.

“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," he said, with the crowd erupting into thunderous cheer at the remarks. It is pertinent to note that Ali Khamenei was killed during an initial salvo of the US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

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Trump says American identity 'under attack'

It is pertinent to note that Khamenei’s funeral proceedings began after the US and Iran reached a framework agreement for a deal to end the war. However, tensions still persist between the two sides. Meanwhile, Trump also claimed that a fresh threat to American identity is ahead of the 250th independence celebrations, aiming at left-wing “radicals and extremists."

“As we approach this magnificent anniversary, we see our American identity under a renewed attack," he said, citing a “resurgence of the communist menace in our land." “In recent years there’s been an undeniable attempt to change this exceptional character, to beat the American spirit out of us, alienate us from our history," he added.

The remarks came at a time when Trump’s approval ratings are near historic lows, fueled by the war in Iran and the skyrocketing cost of living, ahead of the crucial midterm elections in November.