Porni Banerjee | ২০ মে ২০২৪ ১৩ : ১৬Porni Banerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the sudden demise of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday and said that “India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.” 

Taking to X, PM wrote, “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.”

PM Modi last met Raisi in August 2023 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg to exchange dialogues over bolstering bilateral cooperation across various sectors, strengthen trade and investment, connectivity, energy, and counter-terrorism.

Besides, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also condoled the death of Raisi and his Iranian counterpart Amir-Abdollahian in the chopper crash. 

“Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran’s President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash. Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024. Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at time of this tragedy,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

Raisi, 63, is expected to be succeeded by the first Vice President, Mohammad Mokhber, and as per the Iranian constitution, elections will take place within 50 days.

According to sources, Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, among nine other passengers were burnt to death in the crash on Sunday while crossing a mountainous terrain amid thick fog in Iran’s northwestern region.