World leaders sympathize with Iran over martyrdom of Pres Raisi

Tehran, IRNA – When the news about the martyrdom of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was released after the chopper crash, world leaders and top foreign officials expressed sympathy with the Iranian nation and government over the tragic incident.

Raisi, the eighth president of Iran, was martyred when a helicopter carrying him and his entourage crashed in the Varzaqan region in the northwest province of East Azerbaijan, northwestern Iran, on Sunday (May 19).

Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of Armenia, wrote a message of condolences on his page on the X and sympathized with the Iranian government and the kind Iranian nation over the martyrdom of President Raisi and a number of his cabinet members including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Also, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said the news about his Iranian counterpart was so sad.

In a related development, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan condoled with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei over the sad event, saying Armenia stands by the people of its good, brotherly, and friendly country of Iran during these difficult days.

The government of Venezuela issued an official statement to express deep sympathy over the martyrdom of President Raisi and his entourage.

Also, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wrote on his X account that he was shocked to hear the news, describing Raisi as an exemplary individual and a great president who defended his country’s sovereignty.

Belarussian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik, in a message of condolence on the X, said his country lost its true friends and the sad incident was not sorrowful only for Iran.

Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of Belarus, said active measures taken by the officials of the Iranian government helped promote the status of the Islamic Republic in the international arena.

Further, President of the European Council Charles Michel sympathized on his X account with the families of the victims of the helicopter crash that killed the Iranian president and his companions.

Also, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was quoted by the state news agency as extending condolence to the Supreme Leader over the martyrdom of his Iranian counterpart and a number of his companions.

Jeyhun Bayramov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, noted he mourns the death of the Iranian president and his entourage.

Bolivian President Luis Arce has written on his page on social media about the tragic incident, expressing sorrow for the event.

In a message, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin extended his deepest condolences to the Supreme Leader and the Iranian nation over the major tragedy. Putin said President Raisi was a prominent politician who served his country during his lifetime. He was Russia’s true friend and made serious efforts to develop the level of strategic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Sending a message of sympathy to the Iranian nation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Amirabdollahian was a prominent political figure who sacrificed his life for his country.

Amirabdollahian and the Iranian government played an effective role in enhancing fruitful ties between Moscow and Tehran, Lavrov added.

In a related development, Russia’s Embassy in Iran flew flag in half-mast position to show sympathy with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has commented on the death of President Raisi and his companions, saying the incident was an unbelievable tragedy. In his message of condolence to Ayatollah Khamenei and the Iranian nation and government, the South African president said Raisi had an excellent character.

Also, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered condolence over the incident, stressing Ayatollah Raisi made effort to establish peace and friendship in the region.