The Iranians will today hold memorial ceremonies for the late President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
Raisi, alongsie Amir-Abdollahian and seven senior Iranian officials were returning from Iran’s border with Azerbaijan, where the president had inaugurated a dam with Aliyev when the crash happened.
The confirmation of their deaths was made by the Iranian government, following the identification of all the victims despite severe burns.
According to the report, the bodies have been transported to Tabriz, the capital of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province.
Local media reported that a ceremony is being planned in the provincial capital of Tabriz in the morning, followed by a ceremony in the religious stronghold and pilgrimage city of Qom.
The date for the funerals of the two statesmen has not yet been announced.
Raisi is to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad.
The helicopter crashed in dense fog on the mountains over East Azerbaijan Province while the deceased were travelling back from a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
President Bola Tinubu and other world leaders have extended their condolences to the government and people of Iran over the passing of President Raisi and other officials.
In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu expressed profound grief over the “disturbing tragedy”, describing President Raisi as a leader who was “passionately committed to the development of Iran”.
The President commiserated with the bereaved families and prayed for the “continuous peace, stability, and prosperity of the Iranian nation”.
“President Bola Tinubu extends his condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the passing of President Raisi; Iranian foreign minister, Amir-Abdollahian and other officials in a helicopter crash.
“President Tinubu expresses profound grief over this disturbing tragedy, and describes President Raisi as a leader who was passionately committed to the development of Iran.
“While commiserating with the bereaved families, President Tinubu prays for the continuous peace, stability, and prosperity of the Iranian nation.”
Also, the African Union (AU) extended its condolences over the tragic death of the Iranian President and several senior officials.
In a statement, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, expressed his deep shock and sadness over the tragic passing of the Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and their companions.
Numerous Arab countries also expressed their condolences following the death of the Iranian president in the crash.
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, writing on X, offered his sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Also Egypt and Jordan had expressed solidarity with Iranians.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II said his deepest condolences go out to the brothers, leadership, government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of brother President Raisi.
Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Iran, expressed his condolences for this painful incident and the resulting great loss.
Lebanon, for its part, announced a three-day mourning period.