As condolences poured in from around the world following news of Raisi’s death, Israel declared: “It wasn’t us!”
World leaders have expressed condolences over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Rescuers said Sunday afternoon that a Raishi plane carrying Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and nine other officials went missing in the mountains of northwestern Iran near the Azerbaijan border. The search for Raishi began.
Rescue workers discovered the missing helicopter on Monday morning. State television reported that the bodies of the president and his passenger and crew had been identified.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei will now need to move quickly to change the country’s leadership to overcome rising tensions in the Middle East and the risk of open conflict with Israel.
Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has sparked low-level conflicts with Iranian-backed groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis. Last month, Iran and Israel exchanged direct attacks on each other.
In reaction to the confirmation of Raisi’s death, Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel was not involved.
“It wasn’t us,” the anonymous official declared.
Here are other reactions around the world to the president’s death:
Hamas
Palestinian groups expressed their “deepest condolences and solidarity” with Khamenei, the government and the Iranian people for “this incalculable loss.”
He praised Raisi and Amirablahian for supporting the Palestinians against Iran and expressed confidence that Iran’s “deep-rooted institutions” will overcome “the effects of this great loss.”
Houthis in Yemen
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee, expressed his “deepest condolences” to the Iranian people and the families of the officials killed in the crash.
Al Houthi added his confidence that Iran will continue to “follow the faithful leadership of its people, according to God’s will.”
Iraq
“We express our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people and the authorities of the Islamic Republic in this painful tragedy,” Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani said in a statement.
Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a day of mourning in Pakistan.
“May the souls of the martyrs rest in the peace of heaven. The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with its usual courage,” Sharif wrote to X.
Less than a month ago, Pakistan happily welcomed President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian on a historic visit. They were good friends of Pakistan. Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and flags will be flown at half-staff as a sign of respect… https://t.co/fVP26Mtiyr
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 20, 2024
qatar
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed his condolences to the Iranian people.
“I ask God Almighty for mercy and forgiveness. [those killed] And give patience and comfort to their families. We belong to Allah and to Him we will return,” he wrote to X.
Russia
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed condolences over the deaths of two senior officials whom he called Russia’s “trusted friends.”
“The role of both countries in strengthening mutually beneficial Russian-Iranian cooperation and reliable partnership is invaluable,” Foreign Minister Lavrov said.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and to all the friendly Iranian people. Our thoughts and hearts are with you at this sad time.”
President Vladimir Putin also joined Lavrov in expressing his condolences to Tehran.
“Mr. Raisi was an outstanding politician who dedicated his life to the service of the motherland,” Putin said in a letter to Khamenei posted on the Kremlin’s website.
“As a true friend of Russia, he personally made an invaluable contribution to the development of good-neighborhood relations between our two countries and made great efforts to bring our two countries to the level of strategic partnership,” he added.
India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened and shocked” by Raishi’s death.
“His contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between India and Iran will be remembered forever. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran at this time of sadness,” Modi said. The Prime Minister wrote to X.
China
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi Jinping called Raisi’s “tragic death” “a great loss for the Iranian people, and the Chinese people have lost a good friend.”
Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was “deeply saddened” by the news and said it was “an honor” to meet Raisi last November.
“His dedication to justice, peace and the upliftment of the Ummah. [the Islamic community] It was really moving. We were committed to strengthening ties between Malaysia and Iran and working together for the betterment of our people and the Islamic world. Our promise will be fulfilled,” Ibrahim said.
turkey
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed his condolences and said the Turkish government had been in contact with Iran since hearing about Sunday’s crash.
At a joint press conference with Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, he said that Turkey’s relevant institutions, including the Defense Ministry and disaster management authorities, “did their best, but unfortunately we could not hear any good news.” ” he said. .
european union
European Council President Charles Michel expressed the European Union’s “deepest condolences” for the deaths of Raisi, Amirablahian and other Iranian officials who died in the crash.
