Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced a five-day period of national mourning on Monday following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. “I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” Khamenei stated after the tragic incident that occurred in East Azerbaijan province.
President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were among those who perished in the crash on Monday. Rescue teams had been searching for the helicopter since it went missing on Sunday afternoon in a mountainous region. State TV confirmed the deaths early Monday after relief workers found the wreckage.
State television referred to Raisi as “the servant of the Iranian nation” who “achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people.” The announcement was accompanied by images of Raisi and a Koranic recitation. Additionally, Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri shared a Koranic verse on social media platform X to express his condolences.
