Numerous condolences have come from the Arab world following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian. The head of the EU Council, Charles Michel, also expressed his condolences on behalf of the EU.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin praised Raisi as an outstanding politician and a true friend of Russia. Chinese head of state and party leader Xi said Raisi’s death was “a great loss for the Iranian people and the Chinese people have also lost a good friend.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed her condolences. “I would like to express my solidarity and the solidarity of Italy with the Iranian government and the Iranian people,” Meloni said on private broadcaster Canale 5 on Monday. In view of the incident, she is in constant contact with European partners and the allies of the G7 group.
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EU Council President Michel wrote on his official account on
“He became rightly respected by his compatriots and enjoyed great prestige abroad,” one said on Monday Putin’s condolence letter published by the Kremlin to the Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Syria laments “great loss”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed his condolences to Raisi. He speaks to the Iranian people and condolences to the families of Raisi and the other deceasedit said in a post on the X platform on Monday.
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani wrote on X on Monday about “his sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Egypt mourns President Raisi and the other victims of the accident, the government spokesman said in a statement. The King of Jordan, King Abdullah II, expressed his solidarity with the Iranian people. His “deepest condolences go out to the brothers, leadership, government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of brother President Ebrahim Raisi.”
Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who is allied with Iran, made similar statements. He expressed his condolences for “this painful incident and the resulting great loss,” according to the state news agency Sana. The government in Baghdad, Iraq, also expressed sympathy.
“Big supporter” in the Gaza war
Words of sadness also came from Iranian-backed militias in the region. The Hezbollah in Lebanon explained that Raisi was a great supporter and “a staunch advocate of our causes, especially in Jerusalem and in Palestine.”
Similar words came from the Houthis in Yemen. Raisi’s death is “not only a loss for Iran, but for the entire Islamic nationPalestine and Gaza,” a spokesperson explained on X.
The radical Islamist Hamas has praised Raisi as an important “supporter of the Palestinian resistance.” Raisi provided valuable assistance to the Palestinian people and tirelessly expressed solidarity in the Gaza war against IsraelHamas said on Monday.
US government expresses condolences
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a written statement on Monday that United States expressed its “official condolences” on the death of the Iranian president and other government members in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran. “As Iran elects a new president, we reiterate our support for the Iranian people and their fight for human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the statement continued.
National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Raisi was responsible for horrific human rights abuses in his country, as well as for supporting terror networks throughout the region. “There’s no question about it – this was a man who had a lot of blood on his hands,” Kirby said. However, the US government generally regrets the loss of human life and has therefore officially expressed its condolences. This is common practice.
The Iranian leadership sees the USA as its archenemy. Iran and the USA have repeatedly been on the brink of war in the past. In recent months in particular, tensions have escalated dramatically at times due to the Middle East conflict. The US government has also been targeting Iran with far-reaching sanctions for a long time.
UN chief Guterres and Pope Francis offer their condolences
Following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed his condolences to the families, government and people of Iran. The news made him sad, Guterres said on Monday, according to his spokesman in New York.
Pope Francis also expressed his condolences. In a telegram on Monday evening, he expressed his condolences for the deaths of all passengers who died in the helicopter crash in northern Iran the day before. He pray for the relatives and entrust the souls of the dead to the mercy of the Almightythe Pope wrote to Iran’s religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Cautious reactions from Europe
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In Europe, the reaction to Raisi’s death was muted. A number of heads of state did not comment at all. On behalf of the EU, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed his condolences in a brief posting on the online platform X. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which currently holds the presidency of the G7 states, expressed their solidarity in a TV statement.
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell spoke a little later of a “tragic helicopter accident” and also expressed “the condolences of the European Union”.
Criticism of EU leaders over expressions of condolence after death of Iranian president
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Condolences EU leaders Charles Michel and Josep Borrell on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with clear criticism in Europe. “Can you ever look the brave women and freedom fighters in Iran in the eyes again?” wrote Swedish MEP David Lega on Monday on the online service for a butcher and cruel mass murderer” and emphasized: “You do not speak in my name.”
Also the FDP top candidate for the European elections, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, spoke out with criticism. She was referring to the fact that the EU had activated its mapping service on Sunday and provided Iran with satellite data for the search for the downed presidential helicopter. The responsible Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Janez Lenarcic, wrote the hashtag “EU Solidarity”.
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Strack-Zimmermann then criticized the online service X: “What a pathetic hashtag, what a mockery of the courageous fighters for human rights in Iran.” She expected an explanation. Many other users on the Internet also criticized Lenarcic.
Iran maintains its military influence in the region primarily through the support of pro-Iranian militias or political movements. Syria’s government is directly allied with Iran. In Lebanon, Hezbollah and in Yemen the Houthi militias are part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance” that Iran has set up against Israel.
Funeral ceremonies are planned in Iran following the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian. On Tuesday morning there will first be a ceremony in the northwest of the country in the provincial capital Tabris. According to Iranian media, a ceremony is then planned in the pilgrim city of Qom. The date for the funeral of the two statesmen is not yet known. Iran’s religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered five days of national mourning.
(with agencies)