Tag: Raisi

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Iran’s President Raisi Laid to Rest in Historic Shrine

Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, according to the state news agency IRNA. There were no independent estimates…reports Asian Lite News

Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash at the weekend, was laid to rest in his home city of Mashhad on Thursday.

Raisi was buried next to the mausoleum of the eighth Shiite Imam Reza in Mashhad, state broadcaster IRIB reported. It is considered the most important Shia shrine in Iran.

Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, according to the state news agency IRNA. There were no independent estimates.

Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other occupants were killed in a helicopter crash in the northwest of the country on Sunday. Amirabdollahian was buried in the capital Tehran on Thursday.

Prior to this, there was another state-organized funeral service for the president in his home region of Khorasan, where tens of thousands took part.

The provincial capital of Birjand was chosen as the penultimate stop of the funeral ceremonies because Raisi had a special relationship with the city, explained Vice President Mohsen Mansouri. Raisi also represented Birjand on the Council of Experts, an influential clerical body in Iran.

Iran Releases Preliminary Report on Helicopter Crash

The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has released the first report on the causes of a recent helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.

Following the crash, a senior investigation committee composed of experts, specialists, and technicians arrived at the scene on Monday morning, the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted the report by the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces as saying on Friday.

According to the report, the helicopter had remained on its predetermined course all along the way and had not deviated from the flight route.

Nearly one minute and a half before the incident, the pilot of the crashed helicopter had contacted the other two helicopters of the President’s convoy, the report said.

No trace of bullets or similar items have been detected on the wreckage of the crashed helicopter, it added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

After crashing into the mountain, the helicopter had caught fire, it said.

“Complications of the region, fog, and low temperature” had caused the search and rescue operations to continue until nightfall and then throughout the night, the report said, adding, “At 5 a.m. local time on Monday, with the assistance of drones, the exact location of the incident was identified.”

No suspicious issue had been detected in the conversations between the watchtower and the flight crew, it added.

More details would be provided after further investigations, it said.

Raisi and his entourage were en route to East Azerbaijan province when the helicopter carrying them crashed in a mountainous area on Sunday.

Also on board the helicopter were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader to East Azerbaijan.

Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad.

ALSO READ- UAE FM pays tribute to Raisi in Tehran

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Iranian President, Foreign Minister Die in Chopper 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…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)

ALSO READ: UAE Expresses Deep Concern over Iran Helicopter Accident

ALSO READ: Rescue Teams Locate President Raisi’s Helicopter

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Rescue Teams Locate President Raisi’s Helicopter

Without giving further detail, Kolivand said that “the condition is not good.”…reports Asian Lite News

 The chief of Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has confirmed that rescue and search teams have identified President Ebrahim Raisi’s crashed chopper. The chopper also had Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian and seven others on board.

After a search operation lasting several hours, the emergency services were still around 2 kilometres away from the site and had identified the helicopter, head of IRCS, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, said on state television on Monday morning.

Without giving further detail, Kolivand said that “the condition is not good.”

“73 rescue teams are present in the search area of the helicopter in Tawal village with advanced and specialised equipment,” he added.

However, there are no signs of survivors, as per reports.

Rescue workers in Iran continued their search on ground on Sunday for the helicopter carrying nine people including the Iranian President and Foreign Minister, after it went missing in the mountainous terrain, state media reported.

A total of 65 rescue teams, including those from the Iranian armed forces, had been deployed to East Azerbaijan Province in Iran’s northwest, where the helicopter has been located.

ALSO READ-Rescue Teams Scour Area for Missing Helicopter Carrying Raisi

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Raisi to Visit Turkey for Economic Cooperation Summit

Both the leaders are scheduled to hold a joint press conference…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Ankara on Wednesday for eighth meeting of Iran-Turkiye Supreme Council of Economic Cooperation, the state-media reported.

Raisi, accompanied by a high-ranking political and economic delegation, will be visiting Ankara at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Both the leaders are scheduled to hold a joint press conference.

During his visit, President Raisi is also scheduled to visit Turkish businessmen and Iranian expatriates.

ALSO READ-Raisi meets Putin, calls cooperation with Russia important  

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Saudi Arabia Hosts 57-Nation Summit, Bringing Together Iran and Arab Leaders

Israel launched its offensive after surprise; cross-border attacks by Hamas left 1,200 people dead and took 230 hostages…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in their first public appearance together in 11 years at a summit convened by Saudi Arabia on the Israel Hamas war where Arab and Muslim leaders from 57 nations condemned what they called Israeli “war crimes” in Gaza where innocent Palestinians civilians had lost their lives.

The summit highlights the first trip by an Iranian leader to Saudi Arabia in 11 years after the two countries restored diplomatic relations in March. Raisi shook hands with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Speaking at the summit, Raisi said that all attendees had gathered there on behalf of the Islamic world to “save the Palestinians”, the media report said. 

“We have gathered here today to discuss the focus of the Islamic world, which is the Palestinian cause, where we’ve witnessed the worst crimes in history… today, is a historic day in the heroic defence and support of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” he added.

Opening the summit, the Saudi Crown Prince said the Kingdom “categorically rejects” the war to which Palestinians are being subjected. Saudi Arabia is a close ally of the US sharing interests on oil production and is instrumental in playing a great role in hostage negotiations with Egypt, US, Qatar.

“This summit is being held under exceptional and painful circumstances,” he said. 

“We categorically reject this brutal war that our brothers and sisters are being subjected to in Palestine… we renew our demand for an immediate cessation of military operations.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the US “bears responsibility for the absence of a political solution” as it has the most influence on Israel.

The Saudi Prince’s extraordinary diplomatic push in organising the summit of arab nations and Muslim leaders that drew out the Iranian President for the first time out of Tehran, gathered 57 leaders, who demanded that the UN Security Council take a “decisive and binding decision” to impose a ceasefire and Israel’s expanded ground invasion was hurting innocent civilians, media reports said.

“We condemn the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, the war crimes and the barbaric, brutal and inhumane massacres committed by the colonial occupation government against the Palestinian people, including in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. We demand it be stopped immediately,” a resolution adopted at summit said.

The summit demanded the entry of humanitarian aid convoys to help relieve the stress of the people remaining in the combat zones in the Gaza enclave, CNN reporting on the summit said.  

Some 7,00,000 people have fled the war torn zone including foreign nationals and injured civilians that have crossed the border across Rafah crossing into Egypt.

Large number of civilians still remain in Gaza as the Hamas is preventing their exit to use them as human shields as IDF forces its entry into Gaza city through their expanded ground invasion, media reports said.

“Protection from cycles of violence and wars will not be achieved without ending the Israeli occupation… we hold Israel, the occupying power responsible for the continuation and aggravation of the conflict as a result of its aggression against human rights,” the resolution emphasised.

Israel launched its offensive after surprise; cross-border attacks by Hamas left 1,200 people dead and took 230 hostages.

Iran backs the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which has engaged the Jewish nation in daily cross-fire Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. It also backs Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been firing missiles towards Israel, and maintains strong ties with Hamas. 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also attended the summit, a further sign of Syria’s rehabilitation among Arab states, following his participation at a regional meeting in May. 

In his remarks, Assad criticized normalization agreements between Arab countries and Israel. 

“More hands extended by us equals more massacres against us,” he said.

Qatar’s head of state, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, also criticized the international community for failing to “stop war crimes and massacres” in Gaza.

Qatar has brokered indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel over the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza strip, as well as a possible ceasefire. 

Arab-Islamic summit has rejected justifying Gaza war as Israeli self-defence

Riyadh hosted leaders from Iran, Turkey, Syria, Palestine and other countries to discuss the Israel-Gaza war. 

In the opening remarks, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman called for an immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza and the release of all captives and prisoners. 

“This is a humanitarian catastrophe that has proved the failure of the international community and the UN Security Council to put an end to Israel’s gross violations of international humanitarian laws, and prove the dual standards adopted by the world,” he said.

ALSO READ-Macron urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza

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Lula speaks to Raisi over release of captives in Gaza

President Lula asked that everything possible be done to reach a consensus that would create a humanitarian corridor….reports Asian Lite News

President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi called Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the release of captives held in Gaza.

According to an official statement released by Brazil government, Silva noted that there are a group of Brazilians waiting to leave the Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border, and expressed his sympathy for the women and children suffering from the fighting in the area.

The Iranian president called for an immediate end to Israeli bombings and an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

President Lula asked that everything possible be done to reach a consensus that would create a humanitarian corridor and appealed for the release of all hostages, which would be the best signal for an appeal for an end to the bombings in Gaza, according to the release.

“The most important thing is to ensure that women, children and the elderly do not suffer the consequences of those who want war,” Lula said during the conversation.

“I get sad when I see how difficult it is for poor people to build a house, a hospital. And how easily this is destroyed in war.”

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi on Tuesday issued a message for its soldiers ahead of Israel’s announcing that the preparations being made to launch a ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in retaliation to the Hamas attack on its territory.

In a message note shared on X, the IDF called the Hamas attack on Israel a “murderous surprise attack” against Israel and said that they are striking the “enemy” from air, ground and sea.

Addressing the IDF soldiers and commanders, it said on X, “

We destroyed enemy infrastructure, leadership and capabilities and caused significant damage. We will pursue and catch them everywhere and will strike them with force. We are determined and unified in our mission to protect our home and are prepared for any situation at every front. Our uncompromising responsibility is to overwhelm the enemy and restore security everywhere.”

Further highlighting the significance of the moment, the IDF chief of Staff asserted that the IDF would win the war and said that the army is trained for the mission.

“We took a hard hit and we are responsible, but now the initiative is in our hands. Every single one of you has a role in the challenges we face ahead. The war will be difficult and long and the IDF will prevail. The IDF will prevail because of our dedication to the mission, our bravery, and camaraderie. The IDF will prevail because our war is just. The IDF will prevail thanks to the might of the nation we are a part of. We will prevail because of our abilities and because we trained for this mission. We will prevail, and in everything that we do we will act according to the IDF spirit and its values” the IDF Chief of Staff said in his message to troops.

The letter read further, ” We will remember our comrades, soldiers, commanders, security forces; the rapid response teams and the civilians that bravely stormed the enemy, and courageously fought and saved many lives. They fought and paid with their lives, but their blood was not absorbed into the soil in vain; they are our legacy, and we will continue their mission.”

According to the Gaza-based Health ministry, the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 2,750 and the number of wounded has risen to 9,700. In a previous statement, the ministry said over 750 children were among the people killed in the Israeli attacks.

Meanwhile, the Death toll in Israel from the surprise Hamas attack is now more than 1,400, according to the IDF. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Biden Hints at ‘Other Team’ in Gaza Hospital Attack

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Modi, Raisi hold bilateral meeting on BRICS sidelines

Johannesburg, Aug 24 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with Iran President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg on Thursday. (ANI Photo)

Iran is among six countries that have been extended full membership of BRICS during the summit meeting…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran President Ebrahim Raisi held a bilateral meeting in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit.

The meeting between the two leaders came days after they had a telephone conversation in which they discussed matters of bilateral and regional importance.

During their conversation on August 18, Prime Minister Modi noted that the India-Iran relationship is underpinned by close historical and civilizational connections, including strong people-to-people contacts.

The two leaders had reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation including to realize the full potential of Chabahar Port as a connectivity hub.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation at multilateral forums including the expansion of BRICS.

Iran is among six countries that have been extended full membership of BRICS during the summit meeting. 

Earlier in the day, PM Modi congratulated leaders and people of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE over the decision on their full membership of BRICS and said India has always supported the expansion of the organisation.

In a statement in the presence of other leaders from BRICS countries, PM Modi said India has always believed that adding new members will strengthen BRICS as an organisation.

“India has always supported the expansion of BRICS. India has always believed that adding new members will strengthen BRICS as an organisation,” he said.

PM Modi said India has “historic ties” with all the new members of BRICS.

He said India will also contribute to other countries wanting to join as partner countries of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

Prior to his meeting with Raisi, PM Modi also held bilateral meetings with Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Senegal President Macky Sall. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Modi and Xi’s ‘Heartfelt’ Pleasantries Steal the Show at BRICS Summit

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Raisi, Sheikh Mohamed to meet soon

Irans-President-Ebrahim-Raisi-Photo-by-Ahmad-Halabisaz_Xinhua_IANS

Iran recently appointed its envoy to the UAE, a post that had been vacant since 2016…reports Asian Lite News

An Iranian lawmaker has said that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is going to meet soon his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Yaqoub Rezazadeh, a member of the presiding board of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, made the remarks in an interview with the Iranian Students’ News Agency on Wednesday.

He noted that the meeting will be held either in Iran or the UAE, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rezazadeh said since the meeting last month between Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and the UAE president, contacts and communications between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan have started, and the two top diplomats are expected to meet in the near future.



The Parliament member also said the possibility exists that Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, who has played a positive role in mediating and bringing about reconciliation among regional countries, would visit Iran in the coming months to help improve Tehran’s relations with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

Iran recently appointed its envoy to the UAE, a post that had been vacant since 2016, the official news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday.

The new envoy, Reza Ameri, had served as the director general of the Iranian expatriates office at the Foreign Ministry prior to his appointment, Xinhua news agency reported citing local media.

Ameri had also previously served as Iran’s Ambassador to Algeria, Sudan and Eritrea.

In 2016, the UAE downgraded its relations with Iran after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in January that year after Iranian protesters stormed the kingdom’s embassy in Tehran following Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric.

In September 2022, the UAE reinstated its ambassador to Iran.

Arab detente

Less than a month since Tehran and Riyadh agreed to restore diplomatic relations, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has accepted an invitation from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to visit the kingdom, a top official confirmed here.

Iran’s first vice president Mohammad Mokhber made the remarks on Monday while he was asked by the media respond to the Saudi King’s invitation to Raisi of visiting Riyadh, Xinhua news agency reported.

China, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced on March 10 that the latter two had reached a deal which includes the agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions within two months.

On March 19, Mohammad Jamshidi, the Iranian President’s deputy chief of staff for political affairs, had confirmed that the Saudi king sent the invitation letter to Raisi to visit Riyadh.

In a social media post, Jamshidi had said the monarch said in the letter that he welcomed the deal between the two “brotherly countries” on the normalisation of bilateral ties and called for strong economic and regional cooperation between Riyadh and Tehran.

The two nations have also announced they will reopen embassies within two months and re-establish trade and security relations.

ALSO READ: Iran names new envoy to UAE after 8 years

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Raisi, Putin enhance economic ties

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (R) meets with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tehran, Iran, on July 19, 2022. (Iranian Presidential Website/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

The two sides on Monday exchanged views on economic cooperation and ways to expand it…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on the latest developments in bilateral economic cooperation.

The two sides on Monday exchanged views on economic cooperation and ways to expand it, particularly in the field of international transportation, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the website of the Iranian President’s office.

The two leaders also reviewed initiatives involving regional transportation development, according to Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy chief of staff for political affairs to the Iranian President.

Jamshidi explained in a tweet that the Eurasian integration is the second phase of Raisi’s neighbourhood policy which includes the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the International North-South Transport Corridor with Russia.

The goal is to strengthen Iran’s geoeconomic role, he added.

ALSO READ: Putin suspends Russia’s participation in arms treaty with US