The procession then made its way from Tehran University towards Freedom Square along crowded streets filled with mourners….reports Asian Lite News
Millions of mourners flocked to a funeral procession in Tehran on Wednesday after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident, footage from Iran’s state television showed.
The broadcaster showed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leading a prayer ceremony in front of the victim’s coffins.
The procession then made its way from Tehran University towards Freedom Square along crowded streets filled with mourners.
Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other people were killed when their helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of north-western Iran on Sunday.
In the wake of the crash, Khamenei ordered five days of national mourning, ending on Friday.
Wednesday’s funeral ceremony was attended by numerous high-ranking political and military representatives, as well as foreign dignitaries, the state news agency IRNA said.
Raisi is to be buried in his home town of Mashhad on Thursday at the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam.
High-ranking representatives of friendly states are expected to attend, including Russian parliamentary leader Vyacheslav Volodin.
Iran’s state railway company has organised special trains to take mourners from Tehran to the north-eastern city of Mashhad.
Expressing his condolences on the demise of Iranian leaders, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz said, ‘May God have mercy on them’….reports Asian Lite News
Condolences from world leaders continue to pour in after Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were killed in a tragic helicopter crash on Sunday in northwestern Iran.
Expressing his condolences on the demise of Iranian leaders, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz said, ‘May God have mercy on them’.
“As we send you and the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Iran our deepest and sincere condolences, let us ask God Almighty to cover them with His vast mercy and forgiveness, and to grant them peace,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted his statement as saying, according to Al Jazeera.
“May his soul rest in peace. We belong to God and to Him we shall return.”
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, too, offered his condolences on the demise of Raisi, and Amirabdollahian, and other Iranian officials.
“The president of the Arab Republic of Egypt prays that the deceased Iranian president and the departed may rest in God Almighty’s mercy, and grant their families patience and solace, expressing the solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt with the Iranian leadership and people in this terrible incident,” a statement read, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also sent a cable to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, expressing “deep regret and condolences” over the helicopter crash, according to state media.
“We will always remember his visit to Syria as an important milestone in this path, and all the visions and ideas that he presented to enrich relations with everything that benefits the Syrian and Iranian peoples,” Al Assad said, according to Al Jazeera.
Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei announced five days of national mourning in Iran, according to Press TV.
Khamenei declared the same in a message on Monday, and stated that he received the “bitter news” of the death of his “companions with great sorrow.”
“Dear Raeisi did not know fatigue,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that the Iranian nation lost a sincere and valuable servant in this tragic incident, according to Press TV.
According to Article 131 of the Constitution, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber assumes managing the executive branch, the Leader said.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday declared five days of national mourning over the incident, according to a statement published on his website…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian Vice-President for Executive Affairs, Mohsen Mansouri, has said that the body of President Ebrahim Raisi would be buried on Thursday in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
He made the remarks on Monday while elaborating on the planned measures for the holding of the mourning ceremonies of Raisi and members of his accompanying team, who all died in a helicopter crash in the East Azerbaijan province on Sunday, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency.
He noted that given the frequent requests by people in different provinces to attend the mourning ceremonies, the Iranian Education Ministry had cancelled all students’ exams from Tuesday to Friday, adding nationwide closure had been announced for Wednesday to better hold the mourning ceremonies, Xinhua news agency reported.
The funeral ceremonies would be held for Raisi in Tabriz, Qom, the capital Tehran, Birjand, and Mashhad from Tuesday to Thursday, and the President’s body would be buried in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on Thursday night.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday declared five days of national mourning over the incident, according to a statement published on his website.
On Monday afternoon, a large number of people gathered in Tehran, mourning the tragic deaths of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, and Iran’s supreme leader’s representative to East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem.
The crash occurred on Sunday in Varzaqan County as Raisi, along with his accompanying team on board three helicopters, was on his way from Khoda Afarin County, where he had attended the inauguration ceremony of a storage dam along with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev earlier on Monday, to the provincial capital Tabriz.
The members onboard Raisi’s helicopter lost their lives.
UN Mourns Death of Iran’s President and Officials
Members of the UN Security Council have observed a minute of silence to mourn the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other passengers in the helicopter crash late last week.
At the beginning of a Security Council meeting on Monday morning, Mozambique’s UN ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso, who chaired the meeting, asked all those present in the Security Council chamber to stand and observe a minute of silence for the tragic loss of life and to present condolences and sympathy to their families and the people of Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.
He said the minute of silence was requested by Russia, China, and Algeria.
“The UAE stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time,” President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said…reports Asian Lite News
UAE leaders President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.H. Shiekh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, have condoled the tragic demise of President of Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian and the accompanying delegation died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported. The helicopter crashed while returning from the Khoda Afarin region to Tabriz amid poor weather conditions, making it difficult to locate the crash site and hindered rescue operations.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the Iranian government and people over the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and those accompanying them following a tragic accident. We pray that God grants them eternal rest and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families,” President Sheikh Mohamed posted on social media.
“The UAE stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time,” he added.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said: “Our condolences and sincere sympathies to the brotherly Iranian people and their leadership on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister in a painful accident. Our hearts are with you in this difficult time. Our prayers are that God will cover them with His vast mercy and dwell them in His spacious Paradise.”
World leaders extend condolences
Following the tragic death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, world leaders offered their condolences on Monday to Raisi, the Iranian Foreign Minister and other officials who were on board.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the country will observe a one-day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions.
Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences and said, “Had been anxiously following developments regarding the reported crash landing of President Raisi’s helicopter. Was hoping for good news. Alas, this was not to be. 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.”
Calling Pakistan and Iran “good friends”, the Pakistan PM recalled that Pakistan hosted President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian less than a month ago.
“Pakistan had the pleasure of hosting President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on a historic visit, less than a month ago. They were good friends of Pakistan. Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions and in solidarity with Brotherly Iran,” he added in a post shared on X.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Khansari also posted a message of condolences and expressed his condolences on the “martyrdom” of his successor, Hossein Amirabdollahian, along with President Raisi.
Zarif described Amirabdollahian as “my dear brother”, and in a post shared on Instagram, Zarif wrote that the news of the accident was “painful.”
“I wish God’s pleasure for the martyrs, peace and patience for the survivors, and solidarity and progress for the Iranian people,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also offered sincere condolences to the Iranian government and the people of Iran.
“Sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and the accompanying officials in the painful helicopter accident, asking God Almighty for mercy and forgiveness for them and for their families with patience and solace. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return,” Qatar’s Emir posted on X.
Meanwhile, Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani expressed solidarity with Iran during this painful tragedy, reported Al Jazeera.
The Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, has expressed condolences to Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, saying that Raisi was an “unconditional friend” of Venezuela.
“A heartfelt hug from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. You, Iran, are an example of dignity, morality and resistance,” Maduro wrote in a social media post.
Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north-west of Iran, after returning from an Iran-Azerbaijan border area when the chopper ran into heavy fog…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and others on board the helicopter that crashed a day ago in the northwest of the country have all died according to state media Press TV.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, East Azarbaijan Imam of Friday Prayer Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, and several other passengers have been killed in the helicopter crash. Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north-west of Iran, after returning from an Iran-Azerbaijan border area when the chopper ran into heavy fog.
State news agency IRNA reported, “Upon the martyrdom of the president and the minister of foreign affairs, the government cabinet convened an urgent meeting.”
According to CNN, the Iranian Constitution mandates, in the case of the death of the President, the first vice president shall assume, with the approval of the Supreme Leader, the powers and functions of the president. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber would be next in line.
Meanwhile, an Al Jazeera reporter said that “looking at the wreckage of the helicopter, the chances of anyone surviving in such an accident are quite slim. We see that the whole cabin of the helicopter is completely burned.”
The publication said that Iranian authorities “are saying that some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, and that they have not been able to identify who is who at the site.”
Drone footage of the wreckage taken by the Red Crescent was carried on state media. It showed the crash site on a steep, wooded hillside, with little remaining of the helicopter beyond a blue and white tail, CNN reported.
The crash site of the helicopter carrying President Raisi was found in the forested mountains earlier today. The wreckage was found on the route from Khoylar village to Kelem.
Tasnim News Agency reported from Varzeqan that after the probable coordinates of the crash site were announced, rescue teams immediately went to the designated location, but there was no sign of the helicopter.
The search operation continued as daylight broke along the Khoylar to Kelem route.
Iranian Red Crescent Society Pir-Hossein Kolivand
Rescue teams then noticed the helicopter’s blades and wings on a hill and immediately changed their course towards the hill.
The Iranian Red Crescent head highlighted that, according to the videos from the rescue teams, the entire cabin of the helicopter was significantly damaged and burned, adding that there were no signs of survivors on the site.
Raisi was returning to Iran following a visit to Azerbaijan when his helicopter came down in bad weather conditions on Sunday afternoon.
Nine people were on the helicopter that crashed in northwest Iran on Sunday, including three officials, an imam, and flight and security team members, as reported by Tasnim News.
The IRGC-run media outlet, Sepah, reported the nine included: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian; Governor of Eastern Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati, Tabriz’s Friday prayer Imam Mohammad Ali Alehashem, as well as a pilot, copilot, crew chief, head of security, and another bodyguard.
For the first time, Iran is going through such a situation. The country has never seen something similar with the president and the foreign minister disappearing in a helicopter crash, reported Al Jazeera. (ANI)
During the call, the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and joint cooperation between their countries…reports Asian Lite News
Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, Minister of State, received a letter of invitation for His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, from Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to visit Iran.
The invitation was delivered during Almarar’s meeting today, Wednesday, with Reza Amiri, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UAE, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi.
Last month, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has received a phone call from Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
During the call, the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and joint cooperation between their countries to achieve their mutual benefits and support the stability and prosperity of the region and its peoples.
In June, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed received Iranian foreign minister at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi. Abdollahian conveyed to His Highness the greetings of President Raisi, who expressed his wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the UAE.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed conveyed his greetings to his Iranian counterpart, along with his wishes for further growth and development for Iran and its people.
His Highness and Amir-Abdollahian also discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation.
The UAE President and the Iranian Foreign Minister also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues, and also discussed the importance of building on positive developments to benefit the people of the region and enhance regional stability and prosperity.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has met President Bashar al-Assad and lauded Syria’s victory in emerging from a 12-year conflict, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Syria on Wednesday, marking the first visit by an Iranian leader since the beginning of the conflict in the Arab nation in 2011.
Raisi was received by Syrian Foreign Ministry officials and representatives from the presidency at the Damascus International Airport, reports Xinhua news agency.
A welcome ceremony was organised for Raisi at the Qasr al-Sha’ab presidential palace after which he met President Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian President and his visiting Iranian counterpart have signed a number of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for “long-term and comprehensive cooperation” in various fields, state media reported.
The MOUs cover cooperation in the fields of oil, communications, civil aviation, railways, and agriculture, among others, reports Xinhua news agency.
Following the signing of the MOUs, Assad was quoted as saying that the talks with Raisi had centres largely on economic issues.
He noted that the projects under discussion would give the bilateral relations a strong boost by setting up mechanisms for trade exchange and investment to mitigate the impact of the Western sanctions.
He pointed out that both countries would “benefit from the change in the economic map of the world and the gradual shift of balance towards the East, which would liberate international economies from the domination of the West and, as a result, the blockade (Western nations’ economic sanctions) would gradually lose its effects”.
On his part, Raisi said he and Assad discussed the development of bilateral relations in all domains, stressing that “we are determined to develop the relations with all regional countries”.
Raisi lauded Syria’s victory in emerging from a 12-year conflict.
“Syria’s government and people have gone through tremendous hardships, and today we can say that you have weathered and overcome all these problems and achieved victory despite the threats and sanctions imposed against you,” Raisi told Assad at the palace.
Raisi calls for US exit
President Raisi has also called for the U.S. withdrawal from Syria to ensure the Arab state’s security.
He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Syrian President following their meeting in Damascus earlier in the day.
“The sooner the Americans exit from Syria, the more effectively Syria’s security will be guaranteed,” he noted.
Raisi said Iran maintains that the U.S. presence in Syria not only fails to be of any contribution to the Arab country’s security but also compromises its security and that of the entire region.
He stressed that Iran’s foreign policy is based on expanding relations with regional countries without the involvement of foreign powers, noting that foreign powers’ presence in the region does not guarantee security.
Raisi said Iran believes that the establishment of the Syrian government’s complete sovereignty over the entire Syrian territory is the way to ensure the country’s security and that of the entire region.
He said the status quo in Iran and Syria is proof of the “rightfulness and correctness” of the two countries’ resistance against U.S. pressures.
Countries that failed to achieve their “evil” objectives through military actions are making bids to pursue their goals through economic pressures and sanctions, which will definitely end in failure, Raisi said.
During the two-day official visit, the Iranian President will hold extensive political and economic talks with Assad.
Raisi is being accompanied by a delegation which includes Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and other senior officials.
The delegation accompanying Raisi includes Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and other senior officials.
Iran has supported al-Assad during the Syrian war.
