European leaders expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials in a helicopter crash.
European Council President Charles Michel wrote on X:
The EU expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families.
Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s office also expressed condolences.
“The European Union offers its condolences for the death of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian and other Iranian officials involved in the tragic helicopter crash on Sunday. The EU expresses its sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced support for the Iranian government and people. She added that she did not foresee “major changes” in Iran’s internal structure at this time. The French Foreign Ministry also expressed condolences over the death.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on X:
We express our condolences to the people of #Iran and the families of the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-abdollahian, and all those who lost their lives in the helicopter crash yesterday.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said, “I extend my condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected.”
After an overnight search operation in bad weather, Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other senior officials were pronounced dead on Monday morning. Dozens of rescue teams headed to the mountainous region of East Azerbaijan province where the accident occurred on Sunday afternoon.
According to Iran’s constitution, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will assume the presidency. Presidential elections will take place within 50 days.
The helicopter crash came at a “delicate moment for international relations,” The New York Times wrote. The crash occurred just days after senior US and Iranian officials held talks to mitigate the threat of escalation in the Middle East.
Earlier, Raisi also prioritised closer relations with Russia and China and shifting away from the West. He stated that Iran could not trust the US and Europe after the collapse of the nuclear deal. Raisi’s government signed a sweeping 25-year economic, security and military agreement with China.
