Iraqi PM offers condolences to Iran’s Supreme Leader

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – In an official delegation, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, met on Wednesday with the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran to offer condolences for the deaths of the Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, and the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Al-Sudani expressed his deepest sympathies to Khamenei as well as the Iranian government and people for the traumatic incident in which the Iranian officials died, emphasizing the solidarity of the Iraqi government and people for Iran during those difficult moments, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The Iraqi Prime Minister praised Raisi’s character, describing his death as a loss not only for Iran but for the entire region since he worked effectively and responsibly to promote collaboration and peace among countries in the region.

Khamenei stated that Iran will continue to cooperate and protect bilateral interests, confirming that relations between both countries are strong.

Iran’s Supreme Leader also expressed appreciation to Al-Sudani and the Iraqi people for offering condolences and sympathy.

A helicopter carrying Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian, and other Iranian officials crashed on Sunday when it was crossing mountainous territory in dense fog while returning from a trip to Iran’s northwest border with Azerbaijan.

Before crashing, the helicopter was returning from an event marking the inauguration of a dam on the border with Azerbaijan.

While the reason for the accident is yet unknown, local media in Iran said that Iran’s Chief of Staff, Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, has launched an investigation.

On Monday, after several hours of search and rescue efforts, Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian, and the other officials in the helicopter were declared dead.

The Supreme Leader of Iran has declared five days of mourning.