© Photo by president.irIran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi visits a road and rail project in East Azarbaijan Province on May 19, 2024.
Raeisi died alongside his accompanying delegation, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, after their chopper crashed in the Dizmar forest in East Azarbaijan Province on Sunday.
Following an hours-long search hampered by poor weather conditions, rescuers found the burnt-out wreckage of the helicopter and its passengers were confirmed dead.
Irreplaceable loss
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Raeisi as an "outstanding politician" and said his death was an "irreplaceable loss."
"Raeisi was an outstanding politician whose entire life was dedicated to serving his homeland," Putin said in a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Iranian president and top diplomat had been "true and reliable friends" of Moscow.
"As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good-neighborly relations between our countries, and made great efforts to take them to the level of a strategic partnership."
He further described the pair as "patriots... who firmly defended the interests of their state and gave their lives in selfless service to the Motherland."
China's President Xi Jinping paid tribute to President Raeisi, saying the "tragic death" of his Iranian counterpart is "a great loss to the Iranian people."
"President Xi Jinping pointed out... the Chinese people have lost a good friend," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference.Xi sent "sincere condolences" to Iran's first vice president, the spokesman added.
Wang said China had also expressed "deep sorrow" at the death of Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Xi said that "President Raeisi has made important contributions to maintaining Iran's security and stability, promoting national development and prosperity, and also made active efforts to consolidate and develop the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership".
China would offer "all necessary support and assistance" and "continue to support the Iranian government and people in safeguarding their independence, stability and development", Wang said.
'Deeply saddened and shocked'
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said he was "deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise" of the Iranian president.
"My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran," he added. "India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow," he said in a social media post on Monday.India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also posted on X that he was "deeply shocked to hear of the passing away" of President Raeisi and his own counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
"Our condolences to their families," he said. "We stand with the people of Iran at the time of this tragedy."Terrible loss
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a day of mourning "as a mark of respect for President Raeisi and his companions and in solidarity with Brotherly Iran."
"Pakistan had the pleasure of hosting President Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on a historic visit, less than a month ago. They were good friends of Pakistan," he wrote on X.Imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan said, "We are deeply grieved to hear of the tragic deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash. They led their country's resolute support for the beleaguered Palestinian people."
"I along with the government and people of Pakistan extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss. May the martyred souls rest in heavenly peace. The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage."
"Our condolences go to the people & leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran as we stand with them in their hour of grief & trial," he tweeted.Counterpart and brother
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Raeisi as his "counterpart and brother."
"I remember Mr. Raeisi with respect and gratitude" as a person who "worked for peace of Iranian people and for our region during his tenure," he added.Outstanding world leader
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was shocked by the tragic demise of President Raeisi.
He described the Iranian chief executive as "an exemplary person, an outstanding world leader," as well as a "protector of the sovereignty of his people and an unconditional friend" of Venezuela.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani also offered deepest condolences and sympathy to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with the Iranian government and people, over the incident and wished divine mercy for the martyrs.
"With great sorrow and profound sadness, we received the news of the tragic helicopter crash in northern Iran that claimed the lives of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raeisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their companions," he said in a statement.Iraq declared one day on national mourning over the Iranian president's martyrdom.
President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Nechirvan Barzani said, "The passing of President Raeisi is an immense tragedy and a profound loss for the Islamic Republic of Iran, its people, and its friends."
"Nevertheless, we have faith that the noble people of Iran and the Islamic Republic will overcome this immense loss."Honorable stances in support of Palestine
The Palestinian Hamas resistance group expressed "shared feelings of sorrow and pain with the brotherly Iranian people and ... full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran in this tragic incident."
The martyrs, it said, "held honorable stances in support of the Palestinian cause" and the nation's "legitimate struggle against the Zionist entity."
"They made diligent efforts in solidarity [with] ... the steadfast Gaza Strip" and tried to "stop the Zionist aggression against our Palestinian people," Hamas noted.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas extended "sincere condolences and sympathy to the brotherly Iranian people" on the death of President Raeisi and his companions.
In Yemen, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of Supreme Revolutionary Committee, expressed his "deepest condolences" to the Iranian people and the families of the officials who died in the crash.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, spokesman for Yemen's Ansarullah, also stressed that the demise of President Raeisi "is not only a loss for Iran but also a loss for the Muslim world, especially for Palestine and Gaza."
Staunch supporter
Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement also described the Iranian president as a "big brother" to the Lebanese resistance movement, and a staunch supporter of its cause, saying he had defended resistance groups and their fighters.
Similarly, it added, Amir-Abdollahian was a lover of resistance movements and dedicated to their support.
EU condoles
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said in a social media post that, "The EU expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raeisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families."
In solidarity with Iran
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said his country "stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time."
"I extend my deepest condolences to the Iranian government and people over the passing of President Ebrahim Raeisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and those accompanying them following a tragic accident," he said in an X post.In another statement on X, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani extended his "sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran" on the painful incident.
In two separate messages sent to Iran's interim president Mohammad Mokhber, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered condolences over the death of President Raeisi and his companions.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his Iranian counterpart's "dedication to his career" made him "a martyr for the sake of duty."
In a message carried by the official SANA news agency, Assad "affirmed Syria's solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and with the families of the late deceased and his comrades."
"We worked with the late President to ensure that strategic relations between Syria and Iran flourish always," he asserted.Great sadness
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi expressed "great sadness and grief" over the tragedy, voicing Cairo's "solidarity with the leadership and people of Iran in this terrible loss".
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also said Raeisi "exemplified a deep commitment to the welfare of his people and the dignity of his nation, which represents a proud and rich civilization rooted in the principles of Islam."
Also in a statement released on social media, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said "the Iranian people lost a prominent statesman who served his country with dedication and loyalty all his life."
"On this sorrowful day, I pray to Almighty Allah to grant patience and fortitude to the friendly and brotherly people of Iran," he added.
It's smoke and mirrors....the fact remains he most likely was a martyr for the cause and could be the pin that has been pulled to the grenade. Sad that this is how the world theatrics plays the game but time will tell. Truth is being revealed...slow but sure. Quite the twist isn't it?