Huge Crowds Gather for Funeral Procession in Tehran
Huge crowds of Iranians thronged the streets of Tehran on Wednesday for the funeral procession of president Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, who died in a helicopter crash days earlier.
Mourners Pay Respects at University of Tehran
In the city center, mourners clutching portraits of Raisi gathered in and around the University of Tehran, where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led the prayers.
Leaders Join the Procession
Flanked by top officials, Khamenei said prayers over the coffins of the dead, who also included foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, joined the procession, as did Naim Qassem, deputy leader of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Support for the Palestinian People
“I say once again… we are sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue its support for the Palestinian people,” Haniyeh told the crowd to chants of “Death to Israel.”
Tragic Helicopter Crash
Raisi’s helicopter crashed into a fog-shrouded mountainside in northwestern Iran on Sunday as he headed back to the city of Tabriz after attending an opening ceremony for a dam on the border with Azerbaijan.
National Mourning and Succession Plans
Khamenei has declared five days of national mourning and assigned Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as caretaker president until a June 28 election for Raisi’s successor. Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri has been named acting foreign minister.
Investigation into the Crash
The country’s armed forces chief of staff has ordered an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Raisi and his entourage.
Global Condolences
After Raisi’s death, global allies Russia and China sent their condolences, as did the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Messages of condolence also flooded in from Iran’s allies around the region, including the Syrian government, Hamas, and Hezbollah.