Leader, officials grieve loss of president, FM
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei extended his condolences to the Iranian nation over the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions in a helicopter crash.
In a message on Monday, the Leader announced five days of national mourning.
Ayatollah Khamenei said he received the bitter news of the martyrdom of the popular, competent and hardworking president and his companions with great sorrow.
The Leader noted that the tragic incident happened when Raisi and his team were making an attempt to serve the Iranian people.
The entire period of responsibility of this noble and devoted man, both during the short term of the presidency and before that, was completely spent in non-stop efforts to serve the people, the country and Islam, he emphasized.
“Dear Raisi did not know fatigue,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that the Iranian nation lost a sincere and valuable servant in this tragic incident.
He also noted that President Raisi preferred the satisfaction of people, which amounts to God’s satisfaction, over everything else.
Therefore, ingratitude and jibes of some ill-wishers did not deter him from working day and night to achieve progress and improve the situation, Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader noted that prominent figures including Friday Prayers leader of the city of Tabriz Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati as well as the crew also lost their lives in the sad incident.
According to Article 131 of the Constitution, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber assumes managing the executive branch, the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei urged Mokhber to arrange to elect a new president within a maximum of 50 days in cooperation with the other two heads of the three branches of the government.
Parliament speaker, chief justice condole
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf sympathized with Iranians over the incident.
“You had won the hearts of the Iranians,” he addressed the late president, adding, “Your memory will last forever.”
“Your dream came true by being martyred,” he further noted, reminiscing that Raisi was keen on the values of martyrdom school.
Chief Justice of Iran Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i has expressed his condolences over the passing of Raisi noting that he was widely-accepted by various parties in the Islamic Republic.
Condolences by other senior
officials
In this regard, the custodian of the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini (RA) Hassan Khomeini lauded the personality of the late president.
Raisi enjoyed an exemplary and modest personality, he said, adding that he was always enthusiastic about serving the nation.
Senior Iranian Cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi also sent a message on the sad occasion.
He was a quintessential example of a committed, loyal, and revolutionary official. His remarks in the international bodies were a source of pride for the Islamic Ummah and the noble people of Iran.
The oppressed people in the world will never forget this figure, he underlined.
Senior Shia cleric Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani said that Raisi spent all his time solving the economic and political problems in the society.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani, the Supreme Shia Marja of Iraq, in his message of condolence to the Iranian nation, stated that the news of the death of Raisi and his companions in the helicopter crash was regretful.
In his message, Ayatollah Sistani offered his condolences to the honorable nation and the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran for this painful loss, and prayed to God Almighty for mercy and divine grace for the deceased loved ones and for the survivors and grieving families for patience and great reward.
Iran’s government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi reacted to the incident on his X account.
Martyrdom is the reward for the valued president, he wrote.
Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Ezzatollah Zarghami said that Raisi’s everlasting services will be recorded in history.
Mohsen Rezaei, the head of the Supreme Council of Economic Coordination for the three branches of the Iranian government, said that Raisi delivered services wholeheartedly.
He made the utmost sacrifice on the path of serving the Islamic system, Rezaei said.
Iran’s former vice president Eshaq Jahangiri highlighted the personality traits of the late president.
He described Raisi as extremely careful about observing social values and etiquette.
Ali Shamkhani, the political advisor of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, termed Raisi as tireless, hard-working and popular. Saeed Jalili, a member of the Expediency Council and Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said that the popular presidents was martyred after the years of making efforts.
Raisi tried his utmost to help realize the ideals of the Islamic Revolution, he underlined.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Raisi sincerely delivered service for Iranians.
The path of martyrs of the service will be continued, he further noted.
A member of the Expediency Council, Ali Larijani, said that the news of martyrdom saddened every Iranians.
God willing, his priceless services will bring about prestigious states before Allah, he noted.
Former Iranian president, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani also in separate messages extended their condolences over the passing of Raisi and his companions in the helicopter crash.