India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow: PM Modi on death of President Raisi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra on Monday expressed deep sadness and shock at news of the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a chopper crash, and said President Raisi’s contribution to strengthening bilateral ties will always be remembered.

In a post on X, PM Modi also expressed his heartfelt condolences to President Raisi’s family and the people of Iran, and said India stands with Iran in this 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 posted.

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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.…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2024 >

Earlier, Mehr News Agency reported that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash that occurred on Sunday.

The helicopter carrying President Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian crashed in a dense forest area in the Iranian province of East Azarbaijan on Sunday.

The helicopter's passengers included Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's East Azerbaijan Province Governor Malek Rahmati, and Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to East Azarbaijan province, along with several other people.

President Raisi had travelled to East Azarbaijan province early on Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Ilham Aliyev, the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The accident occurred during his return journey as a result of dense fog in the region.