The funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others killed in a helicopter crash will be held tomorrow at the University of Tehran in Iran’s capital.
India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar will fly to Iran to attend the funeral of Raisi and others in the capital. At Tehran University, the funeral will be led by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after which the procession will head to Maidan-e-Azadi (Azadi Square).
The people of Tehran will pay tribute to Raisi, Hossein Amir Abdollahian and others. Tens and thousands of mourners have already gathered, waving Iranian flags and portraits of the late president.
People marched in the northwestern city of Tabriz, where Raisi’s helicopter was headed when it crashed.
Ashraf Zaidi, an expert on Iran affairs, said their bodies will be kept at the Sa’dabad Complex – the presidential complex – from 3pm to 6pm, where guests from other countries will pay their respects.
On Thursday, people will pay tribute to Raisi and others in the city of Mashhad. Later in the evening, Raisi and others will be laid to rest at the Imam-e-Raza Shrine.
Raisi and Amir Abdollahian were among nine people who died after their helicopter crashed in the mountainous area of northwestern Iran while returning from the border with Azerbaijan after flagging joint projects in the region.
After the wreckage was found by rescuers, their bodies were first taken to the city of Tabriz, where thousands of people paid tribute. The bodies were later taken to the Holy Shrine of Masooma and Qum in the city of Qum for homage.
Many countries, including India, mourned Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, with several nations declaring state mourning. India also observed official mourning today as the national flag was flown at half-mast at all government buildings, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
#TO ATTEND | Delhi: The national flag at Rashtrapati Bhavan flies at half-mast as day-long national mourning is observed in the country following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister and other top officials in a helicopter crash. pic.twitter.com/xZZXGiCdpv
-ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2024
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar today visited the Iranian embassy in Delhi to convey “deepest condolences on the tragic passing of President Ebrahim Raisi and my colleague Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian”.
I visited the Iranian Embassy in Delhi today to convey our deepest condolences on the tragic passing of President Ebrahim Raisi and my colleague, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
They will always be remembered as friends of India who contributed immensely to… pic.twitter.com/twLg2OXoFq
– Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) May 21, 2024
Although a day of state mourning was observed in Pakistan and Iraq, three days of national mourning were also declared in Syria and Lebanon, and five days in Iran.
Leaders who paid tribute
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, President of China Xi Jinping, King Salman and Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Syrian President Bashar al- Assad including Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, European Union, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, Sudan, Turkey, Venezuela, Yemen, UN paid tribute.
Religious leaders also paid tribute
Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, Pope and head of the Catholic Church, also sent a telegram expressing his condolences for the deaths of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and all those killed in the helicopter May 19th. collide.
The senior Shi’ite cleric in Iraq, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, also expressed “deep condolences” over the death of Iran’s president and others killed in the crash.
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story