Putin mourns Iranian president Raisi after tragic helicopter crash
Vladimir Putin sent a telegram of condolences to Iran's highest spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Russian dictator called President Raisi "an outstanding politician".
Russian President Vladimir Putin extended condolences to Iran's leaders in connection with the death of the republic's president, Ebrahim Raisi. The telegram was published on the Kremlin's website.
"Please accept our sincerest condolences about the enormous tragedy that has befallen the nation of the Islamic Republic of Iran – the plane crash – in which President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, as well as many other prominent statesmen of your nation, perished," the condolence telegram reads.
The Russian dictator added that he "will always hold his colleague in good memory". "Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the family and friends of the deceased president and all those who died in this terrible disaster. I wish them and the entire Iranian nation strength of spirit in the face of such a grave, irreplaceable loss," Putin wrote.
He called the President of Iran "an outstanding politician". "He rightfully enjoyed great respect from his compatriots and significant authority abroad," the Russian dictator assessed.
The last time Putin and Raisi met in person was in Moscow on 7 December 2023, and in November, they participated in an online BRICS summit. Since the beginning of 2024, the presidents of Russia and Iran have spoken by phone twice, most recently on 16 April.
The president of Iran is dead
The presidential helicopter crashed near Jolfa in Iran's East Azerbaijan province. The aircraft struck the side of a mountain and completely burned. On board during the tragic flight were, among others, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malik Rahmati, and Imam from Tabriz Mohammad Ali Al-Hashem.
The president's death was confirmed in a government communiqué; earlier, Raisi's death was announced by the head of the Iranian Red Crescent, Pir Hossein Kolivand.
The crash occurred as President Raisi returned from a dam opening ceremony on the Aras River on the Iran-Azerbaijan border, which he attended with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev.
The convoy included three helicopters, two of which returned safely.
