As Iran observed a period of mourning following the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, US President Donald Trump's recent remarks on the country sparked fresh political reactions in India. Reports claiming that nearly 10 million people attended Khamenei's funeral have added to the discussion.
Trump made a series of remarks that drew attention amid the mourning in Iran. In one statement, he said the US had "given Iran a holiday" for Khamenei's funeral. In another, he claimed the United States had inflicted heavy damage on Iran during the war.
He also warned that Iranian leaders remained within reach, saying they could all be eliminated "in one shot", but added that the US would not do so because "there would be nobody left to negotiate with". Trump further claimed that Iran was "begging" for a deal.
The controversy prompted a response from the Congress party. Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera reposted a news report about Trump's remarks on X and criticised both the US President's comments and the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
Citing reports that around 10 million people attended Khamenei's funeral, possibly one of the largest funeral gatherings in history, Khera noted that several Indian representatives had also travelled to Iran to pay their respects.
He described Trump's statements as "provocative and irresponsible", saying they were detrimental to peace efforts in West Asia.
An estimated 10 million people are reported to have attended the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei—potentially making it the largest funeral gathering in recorded history. Many Indian delegates also travelled to Iran to pay their respects.
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) July 5, 2026
In… https://t.co/XxBWLeORbV
Khera also accused the Centre of failing to condemn the remarks, alleging that the Prime Minister and his government lacked the moral courage to speak out against what he called inflammatory statements made by the United States.
"What is disturbing for us is that our Compromised PM and the government he leads are incapable of summoning the moral courage to condemn such reckless insinuations of violence by their masters in the United States."
