Armenian Foreign Minister regrets “tragic loss” of Iranian counterpart

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Foreign Ministry has expressed shock over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash on Sunday, May 19.

“As we learn the devastating news from Iran, including the tragic loss of life of my dear colleague and friend Amirabdolahian. I send my deepest condolences to the government, the Foreign Ministry colleagues and the friendly people of Iran. Sharing the sorrow, we wish strength in this dark time,” Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in a statement.

Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash near Iran’s border with Azerbaijan. Search and rescue teams have recovered bodies from the wreckage, and said there were no survivors. Contact had been lost with the aircraft on Sunday as it navigated fog-covered mountains in north-west Iran, The Guardian reported.

Amir-abdollahian was also among those killed too. The governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials and bodyguards were also named by local media as among the dead. A total of nine people were on board the aircraft, according to Tasnim news agency.

Iran’s vice-president, Mohammad Mokhber is expected to become the country’s interim president who will help organise a presidential election that should take place within 50 days of the president’s death.