World leaders have expressed their condolences on the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Rescue groups started looking for Raisi on Sunday afternoon after his plane, which additionally carried 9 different officers, together with Overseas Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, went lacking in Iran’s mountainous northwestern area close to the Azerbaijan border.
On Monday morning, aid staff situated the lacking helicopter. State TV reported that the president’s physique and that of the others on board had been recognized.
Listed below are some reactions to the president’s demise from internationally:
China
President Xi Jinping referred to as the “tragic demise” of Raisi “a terrific loss to the Iranian folks and the Chinese language folks have misplaced a superb good friend”, in accordance with China’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs.
Egypt
An announcement from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi mentioned that “The president of the Arab Republic of Egypt … prays that the deceased Iranian President and the departed might relaxation in God Almighty’s mercy, and grant their households persistence and solace, expressing the solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt with the Iranian management and folks on this horrible incident.”
European Union
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed the bloc’s “honest condolences” for the demise of Raisi, Amirabollahian and the opposite Iranian officers who died within the crash.
Josep Borrell, the bloc’s international coverage chief, additionally supplied his condolences.
“The EU expresses its sympathies to the households of all of the victims and to the Iranian residents affected,” he mentioned in an announcement.
Hamas
The Palestinian group conveyed its “deepest condolences and solidarity to Khamenei, the federal government and the Iranian folks for “this immense loss”.
It praised Raisi and Amirabollahian for supporting Palestine in opposition to Israel and expressed confidence that Iran’s “deep-rooted establishments” will overcome “the repercussions of this nice loss”.
Hezbollah
Lebanon’s Iran again group praised the wrestle of the martyrs in defending the causes of the nation and their service to Iran, calling on God to bless them together with his mercy, to guard Khamenei, and to grant Iran the power to beat the ordeal with persistence and dedication.
India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned he was “deeply saddened and shocked” by Raisi’s demise.
“His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will all the time be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his household and the folks of Iran. India stands with Iran on this time of sorrow,” Modi wrote on X.
Iraq
“We categorical our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian folks and the officers of the Islamic Republic throughout this painful tragedy,” Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani mentioned in an announcement.
Italy
In an interview with Italian broadcaster Channel 5, Prime Minister Georgia Meloni mentioned that she sees “in these hours that the Iranian authorities are crediting the thesis of the accident and never conspiracy theories.”
“I don’t see any modifications within the inner order in Iran, we’re in fixed contact with our European and G7 allies as a result of we’re speaking about an incident that’s a part of a very advanced regional framework,” she mentioned.
“I hope that the longer term Iranian management desires to commit itself to the stabilisation and pacification of the area,” she added.
Japan
Japan’s authorities spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi mentioned the nation expresses its deepest condolences to the federal government and folks of Iran over the demise of President Raisi and the international minister.
Jordan
In a put up on the social media platform X, Jordan’s King Abdullah prolonged his “deepest condolences to the brothers, management, authorities and folks of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the demise of Brother President Ebrahim Raisi, Overseas Minister Brother Hossein Amir Abdullahian and people accompanying them.”
“Might God have mercy on all of them. We stand in solidarity with our brothers in Iran on this troublesome circumstance,” he added.
Malaysia
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mentioned he was “deeply saddened” by the information, noting that he had the “honour” of assembly Raisi final November.
“His dedication to justice, peace, and the upliftment of the ummah [the Islamic community] was actually inspiring. We dedicated ourselves to bolstering Malaysia-Iran relations, working collectively for the betterment of our peoples and the Muslim world. Our pledge will probably be fulfilled,” Ibrahim mentioned.
Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a day of mourning in Pakistan.
“Might the martyred souls relaxation in heavenly peace. The nice Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary braveness,” Sharif wrote on X.
Pakistan had the pleasure of internet hosting President Raisi and Overseas Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on a historic go to, lower than a month in the past. They have been good mates of Pakistan. Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for… https://t.co/fVP26Mtiyr
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 20, 2024
Pope Francis
The Pope has despatched condolences to Iran’s Supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday following the demise of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
“I ship condolences upon the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and all who perished in yesterday’s helicopter crash,” wrote the 87-year-old pope in a telegram written in English and addressed to Khamenei.
“Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the mercy of the Almighty, and with prayers for individuals who mourn their loss, particularly their households, I ship the reassurance of non secular closeness to the nation at this troublesome time.”
Qatar
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed his condolences to the folks of Iran.
“Asking God Almighty for mercy and forgiveness for [those killed] and for his or her households with persistence and solace. We belong to Allah and to Him we will return,” he wrote on X.
Russia
Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed condolences over the demise of two high officers he referred to as “dependable mates” of Russia.
“Their position in strengthening mutually helpful Russian-Iranian cooperation and trusting partnership is invaluable,” Lavrov mentioned.
“We sincerely prolong our condolences to the households and mates of the victims, in addition to to all the pleasant folks of Iran. Our ideas and hearts are with you on this unhappy hour.”
President Vladimir Putin joined Lavrov in providing Tehran condolences.
“Raisi was an impressive politician whose whole life was devoted to serving his homeland,” Putin mentioned in a letter to Khamenei, printed on the Kremlin’s web site.
“As a real good friend of Russia, he made a useful private contribution to the event of good-neighbourly relations between our nations, and made nice efforts to take them to the extent of a strategic partnership,” he added.
Sudan
In an announcement, Sudan’s sovereign council head Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has prolonged “his honest condolences and sympathy to the pleasant Iranian folks.”
“He prays to God Almighty that he might have mercy on the President and his companions, and grant their households persistence and solace, expressing the solidarity of the Authorities of Sudan and its folks with the management and the Iranian folks on this nice loss,” the assertion added.
Syria
Syrian Presiden Bashar Al- Assad affirmed Syria’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the households of the useless.
Assad added that Syria had labored with the late president to make sure strategic ties between Syria and Iran remained affluent, recalling Raisi’s essential go to to Syria as a part of enhancing ties for the advantage of each nations.
Turkey
Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan expressed condolences and mentioned Ankara had been in touch with Iran since listening to concerning the crash on Sunday.
He mentioned Turkey’s related establishments, together with the defence ministry and the catastrophe administration authority, tried “their finest however sadly, we weren’t in a position to hear excellent news,” he advised a joint information convention together with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, in Islamabad.
Venezuela
“Deeply saddened to must say goodbye to an exemplary particular person, a rare chief of the world as our brother Ebrahim is, and can all the time be, a superb human being, defender of the sovereignty of his folks and unconditional good friend of our nation,” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro mentioned in an announcement on the social media platform X.
Yemen’s Houthis
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi’s Supreme Revolutionary Committee, expressed his “deepest condolences” to the Iranian folks and the households of the officers who died within the crash.
Al-Houthi added his certainty that Iran would proceed “adhering to the loyal leaders of their folks, by God’s will”.
UAE
“Our hearts are with you on this troublesome time. Our prayers are that God will cowl them with His huge mercy and dwell them in His spacious Paradise,” UAE’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum mentioned.
United States
The USA Said Division has expressed its “official condolences” for the demise of Raisi and different officers in a helicopter crash.
“As Iran selects a brand new president, we reaffirm our assist for the Iranian folks and their wrestle for human rights and basic freedoms,” division spokesman Matthew Miller mentioned in an announcement.
In the meantime, US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned that he had no perception into the reason for the helicopter crash.
“I can’t speculate on what might have been the trigger,” he advised reporters.