International

Trump: I Do Not Seek Regime Change - Katz: We Killed Khamenei

Tehran - Washington - Tel Aviv

Publication Date: July 7, 2026 00:20 KSA

Tehran Continues Funeral Ceremonies for Its Supreme Leader

Funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei continued in Tehran yesterday for the third day, amid tight security and questions about the continued absence of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Khamenei's funeral procession began its tour through the streets of Tehran in a final farewell ceremony expected to last about ten hours. Tehran had witnessed the funeral prayer for Khamenei the day before yesterday, which was missed by his son Mojtaba Khamenei. In the front row near the coffin appeared several top Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The funeral ceremonies coincide with continued exchanges between Tehran and Washington. US President Donald Trump affirmed that Iran is eager and seeking by all means to reach a political settlement with the United States, noting that the US, 'out of its kindness,' granted Iran a one-week deadline to halt operations to allow the funeral ceremony. Trump added: 'I do not seek regime change in Iran. Our performance in Iran is wonderful. We eliminated its army, and it cannot obtain nuclear weapons. Our country is in an excellent position, and we are achieving results in Iran similar to those in Venezuela.' He noted that media coverage does not receive the attention it deserves regarding Iran, but 'we crushed them militarily. Our country is strong, and we have the strongest army in the world.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News: 'No date has been set for my meeting with President Trump yet, and I hope to present to him progress on the peace track with Lebanon.' He added, 'There are no substantive differences with Washington. President Trump and I have different styles of expression, but we are the best allies.' He believes that weakening Iran opens the door to new peace agreements like the Abraham Accords. Netanyahu called for not supplying Turkey with F-35 fighter jets because that would harm the existing balance of power based on Israeli superiority. He added that Israel stood by the US in confronting Iran, unlike Turkey, stressing that 'Turkey is a wonderful country, but it is run by a person who openly calls for the destruction of Israel.' Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated yesterday that 'Israel is ready to defend itself at any time and against any threat,' affirming the continuation of the 'military response' policy against what he described as 'risks' targeting its security, according to his expression. Katz added that 'any Iranian leader who again tries to push plans aimed at destroying Israel will also be eliminated,' claiming that the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei 'was killed by Israel because he initiated and led a plan aimed at destroying Israel,' according to Israeli media.

Ali Khamenei, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran