Trump says US gave Iran ‘a week off’ for Khamenei funeral

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran was eager to reach an agreement with Washington, adding that the US had temporarily paused negotiations to allow funeral ceremonies for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to take place. Speaking at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence on Friday, Trump said Tehran was seeking a settlement following recent hostilities between the two countries. “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, referring to the funeral processions for Khamenei, which officially began in Iran on Friday. During his address, Trump praised the United States’ military and historical achievements. “We created the strongest and most powerful military. We won two world wars, ” he said, adding that America’s adversaries during the Cold War had been consigned to “the depths of history. ” Trump also referenced recent international conflicts, claiming that the United States had “beat Venezuela in one day” before turning to the situation with Iran. Marking the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations, Trump described the United States as “the oldest republic on Earth” and “the freest people on Earth, ” while praising the country’s constitution and global humanitarian contributions. “At 250 years, America is the oldest republic on Earth. We are the freest people on Earth. We have the most righteous and enduring constitution on Earth, ” he said. The president also warned of what he described as a growing ideological threat within the United States, accusing progressive political movements of promoting ideas contrary to American values. “There is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success, ” Trump said. Describing communism as “a mortal threat to American liberty, ” Trump called it “the greatest threat to our country, ” comparing it to major historical conflicts and attacks. Turning to domestic politics ahead of November’s midterm elections, Trump urged Republicans to remain united. “We can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms, ” he said, adding that eliminating the Senate filibuster and passing what he called the “Save America Act” would ensure Republicans “will not lose an election for 100 years. ”

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