Condolences pour in for Iran president, FM after helicopter crash

World leaders, regional leaders, as well as entities such as Hamas and Houthi rebels have sent condolences following the deaths of Raisi and Amirabdollahian.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as the country’s acting president after President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash that also killed Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

A total of nine people, including a provincial governor, were on board when the aircraft went down in northern Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. They all are believed to be dead.

Khamenei also declares five days of national mourning. New elections will be held within 50 days.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has posted a tribute to President Ebrahim Raisi following his death in a helicopter crash.

In a post on X, the supreme leader posted a photo of him and Raisi with a brief message referring to Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam and a revered figure in Iran.

Raisi’s remains are now being transported to the city of Tabriz.

It is still unclear when and where Raisi will be buried.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a chopper crash on Sunday, and said that India stands with Iran in its "time of sorrow".

"Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow," he said in a post on X.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says his country will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half-mast as a mark of respect for Raisi and his companions.

In a post on X, Sharif called Raisi and Amirabdollahian “good friends of Pakistan” and extended his “deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss”.

“The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” he added.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has expressed solidarity with the Iranian people following Raisi’s death.

He said in a statement:

“With profound sadness and deep sorrow, we received the tragic news of the passing of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and their companions, due to the unfortunate plane crash incident in northern Iran.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, and to the nation of Iran, its government and people. We express our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people and the officials of the Islamic Republic during this painful tragedy.”

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent his “sincere condolences” to Iran following the death of President Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabollahian.

In a statement posted on X, the Qatari emir wrote that he is asking for God’s “mercy and forgiveness” for all those who were killed in the helicopter crash.

Sheikh Tamim also wished “patience and solace” to the families of those who died.

“We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return,” he added.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has extended his “heartfelt condolences” to the people of Iran following Raisi and Amriabdollahian’s deaths.

He said in a post on X: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“I had the honour of meeting President Raisi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last November. He exemplified a deep commitment to the welfare of his people and the dignity of his nation, which represents a proud and rich civilisation rooted in the principles of Islam. His dedication to justice, peace, and the upliftment of the ummah was truly inspiring. We committed ourselves to bolstering Malaysia-Iran relations, working together for the betterment of our peoples and the Muslim world. Our pledge will be fulfilled.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement, "We extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the brotherly Iranian people for the passing of the late President Ibrahim Raisi and the Foreign Minister, praying to Almighty God to bestow His vast mercy upon the deceased Iranian President and the others, and to grant patience and solace to their families, affirming the solidarity of the State of Palestine and its people with the Iranian leadership and people in this great affliction."

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a message said, "Seyed Ebrahim Raisi was an outstanding politician whose entire life was devoted to serving the Motherland.

"As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good neighbourly relations between our countries and made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership."

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote: "As a colleague who personally witnessed his efforts for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his time in power, I remember Mr. Raisi with respect and gratitude."

Arab League Chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit in a statement said, "We pray to God to shower them with mercy and forgiveness and to inspire their families with patience and solace."

Uae Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-maktoum in a statement said, "Our hearts are with you in this difficult time. Our prayers are that God will cover them with His vast mercy and dwell them in His spacious Paradise."

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said 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.”

Meanwhile, Hamas on Monday expressed its condolences for Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash, mourning in a statement an "honourable supporter" of the Tehran-backed Palestinian combatant group.

Hamas said it appreciated Raisi's "support for the Palestinian resistance, and tireless efforts in solidarity" with Palestinians since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza following the group's October 7 attack.

The combatant group said it appreciated Raisi and Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who was also killed in the Sunday crash, for their "intense political and diplomatic efforts to stop the Zionist (Israeli) aggression against our Palestinian people".

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the head of Yemen’s Houthi revolutionary committee, says on X:

“Our deepest condolences to the Iranian people, the Iranian leadership, and the families of President Raisi and the accompanying delegation on their reported martyrdom.

“We ask God to grant their families patience and solace. Verily we belong to God and to Him we shall return. The Iranian people will remain adhering to the loyal leaders of their people, by God’s will.”

The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah issued a statement offering its “deepest condolences” to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Iranian people.

“We have known His Eminence the martyr president closely for a long time, so he was a great brother to us, a strong support, and a steadfast defender of our causes and the causes of the nation, foremost among them being Jerusalem and Palestine, and a guardian of the resistance movements and their fighters in all the positions of responsibility he held,” the statement said.