State media have confirmed that Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and several others were killed in a Bell 212 helicopter crash in a mountainous region of Iran.

The sudden deaths of these leaders prompted an outpouring of condolences from leaders around the world. Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, sent his condolences and wrote on X that he is asking for God’s “mercy and forgiveness” for all who were killed in the crash. He also wished for “patience and solace” for the families of those who perished, emphasizing, “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”

Iraq’s Prime Minister also expressed his solidarity and condolences. In a statement, he said, “With profound sadness and deep sorrow, we received the tragic news of the passing of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their companions, due to the unfortunate helicopter crash incident in northern Iran.” He extended heartfelt condolences to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, and to the nation of Iran, its government, and people, expressing solidarity with the Iranian people and officials during this painful tragedy.

Similarly, Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad expressed his “deep regret and condolences” regarding the helicopter crash, calling Raisi’s death a “great loss.” He noted, “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.”

Condolences extended beyond the Middle East. The Foreign Ministry of France issued a statement, saying, “France offers its condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and those accompanying them,” expressing their sympathies to the families of the victims.

This tragic event has led to an outpouring of grief and support for Iran at a time when the country has been criticised for firing rockets into Israel.

Featured Image: Iran’s PM Ebrahim Raisi. Photo by : mehrnews.com / photos / Maryam Kamyab/ C/C WikimediaCommons. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.