TEHRAN- Leaders from around the world have expressed condolences and shock at the tragic deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and seven others in a helicopter crash in Iran's remote northwest.

They have offered their sympathies to the Iranian government and people over the incident that happened on Sunday afternoon with many taking to social media to pay tribute to the deceased officials. 

Putin: Raisi was true friend of Russia 

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his “deep condolences” to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, calling the deaths of Raisi and other officials a “huge tragedy” and “a difficult, irreparable loss.”

Members of the UN Security Council on Monday observed a minute of silence in memory of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage who were killed in a helicopter crash.In a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin said Raisi was “an outstanding politician whose entire life was devoted to serving the Motherland.”

“He rightfully enjoyed high respect from his compatriots and significant authority abroad. As a true friend of Russia, he made an invaluable personal contribution to the development of good neighborly relations between our countries and made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership,” the Russian president said.

Putin said he had met Raisi several times and “will forever retain the fondest memory of this wonderful man.”

The Kremlin said Putin has spoken to Iran’s interim President Mohammad Mokhber, adding that the two leaders stressed their “mutual intention to further strengthen Russian-Iranian interaction”.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also said Moscow will continue to deepen its relationship with Iran and that previous agreements with Tehran will be implemented.

Xi: Raisi’s death was huge loss 

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences over the death of Iran’s president. 

“His unfortunate death is a huge loss to the Iranian people, and also caused China to lose a good friend,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a daily news briefing, quoting President Xi.

The Chinese president praised Raisi’s “important contributions to safeguarding Iran’s security and stability” and for “positive efforts” on Beijing-Tehran relations.

Palestine expresses solidarity 

In Palestine, President Mahmoud Abbas extended the deepest condolences to the government and people of Iran on the death of the Iranian president and other officials. 

“We extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the brotherly Iranian people on the death of the late President Ebrahim Raisi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, praying to God Almighty may have mercy on the deceased Iranian President, and grant their families patience and solace, stressing the solidarity of the State of Palestine and its people with the Iranian leadership and people in this great affliction," President Abbas said. 

Hamas praises Raisi

In the Gaza Strip, Hamas issued a statement mourning the deaths of Iran’s president and foreign minister.

The resistance group said the helicopter crash “claimed the lives of a group of the best Iranian leaders,” praising their “honorable positions in support of our Palestinian cause, and support for the legitimate struggle of our people against the Zionist entity,”.

The statement added, “We are confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be able — God willing — to overcome the repercussions of this great loss. The dear Iranian people have ancient institutions capable of dealing with this severe ordeal.” 

“Great loss for Palestinians”

The Islamic Jihad also called the deaths of Raisi and Amir Abdollahian “a great loss for the Palestinian people in these difficult circumstances, as they had a prominent and clear role in supporting and assisting the Palestinian people’s struggle and resistance”.

Syria, Lebanon declare 3 days of mourning

Lebanon and Syria on Monday announced three days of national mourning for the passing of the Iranian president and foreign minister.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am about this incident that happened. Especially that the foreign minister had become a friend," Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told reporters on Monday.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also expressed solidarity with Iran. 

“We worked with the late president (Raisi) to ensure that the strategic relations between Syria and Iran remain prosperous always, and we will always remember his visit to Syria as an important milestone in this path, and all the visions and ideas that he presented to enrich relations with everything that benefits the Syrian and Iranian peoples,” Assad’s office said in a statement.

Hezbollah calls Raisi protector of resistance and defender of Arab issues

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah mourned the deaths of the Iranian president and foreign minister.

Hezbollah described Raisi as “a big brother to us, a strong supporter, and a staunch defender of our issues and the Arab nations’ issues, most notably Jerusalem and Palestine, and a protector of the resistance movements and those fighting on their behalf in all the positions of responsibility he held.”

Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan and India have declared days of national mourning over the deaths of Iran’s president and foreign minister. Iraq extends “sincere condolences”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed “great sadness and great sorrow” in a statement over the deaths of Raisi and others in the helicopter crash.

He also extended “sincere condolences” to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and government and “solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people.”

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, or Hashed al-Shaabi, also expressed their sympathies, adding that Raisi had “always declared that Iraq and Iran are one people that cannot be separated.”

Ayatollah Sistani expresses ‘deep sorrow’ over Raisi's death 

Iraq's top cleric Ayatollah Sistani offered condolences to Iran over the martyrdom of President Raeisi and his companions.

“We received the news of the death of Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran, and his companions with deep sorrow,” Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said. 

"I offer my condolences to the nation and government of Iran, especially the families of the deceased, and wish them patience," Ayatollah al-Sistani added.

Ansarullah mourns Iran’s president 

Yemen’s Ansarullah movement mourned the death of Raisi and other senior officials in the helicopter crash.

“Our deepest condolences to the Iranian people and the Iranian leadership and to the families of the president and the accompanying delegation,” Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, the head of the Ansarullah’s Supreme Revolutionary Committees said.

“The Iranian people will continue to have leaders loyal to their people, God willing,” he added. 

Pakistan expresses shock, sorrow 

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a day of mourning over Raisi’s death.

“I along with the government and people of Pakistan extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Iranian nation on this terrible loss. May the martyred souls rest in heavenly peace. The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage,” Sharif wrote on X.

Sharif, who recently hosted Raisi and Amir Abdollahian when they visited Pakistan, said: “They were good friends of Pakistan.”

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari in a statement also expressed shock and sorrow over Raisi’s death. He extended his condolences to the bereaved families of the Iranian president, the foreign minister and others who died in the accident.

Al-Azhar sends condolence message 

In a statement, the Al-Azhar al-Sharif, the Sunni world’s foremost seat of religious learning, mourned the death of President Raisi, Amir Abdollahian and others who were killed in the helicopter crash.

Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo-based Al-Azhar, extended his condolences to the Iranian people and the families of the dead officials.

Al-Azhar is a prestigious religious institution across the Muslim world. A 1,000-year-old university of scholar-clerics, it teaches new generations of Sunni clerics and produces research that for many spells out what being a Muslim entails.

Egypt’s Sisi expresses grief 

Egypt's president extended his condolences for the deaths of Raisi and Amir Abdollahian. 
"Egypt mourns, with great sadness and grief" the Iranian president and Tehran's top diplomat, "who passed away on Sunday following a painful accident," the presidency said in a statement.
Sisi also extended "his sincere condolences and sympathy" to the Iranian people. He expressed Cairo's "solidarity with the leadership and people of Iran in this terrible loss."

IAEA observes minute of silence

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency called at a conference on nuclear security in Vienna for a minute of silence in memory of the Iranian president, foreign minister and the other victims of the helicopter crash. 
“I extend my condolences on [their] tragic passing,” Rafael Mariano Grossi wrote on X on Monday. “Our thoughts are with their families and the people of Iran during this difficult time.”

Afghanistan’s Taliban: ‘We share our grief with Iran’

In Afghanistan, Taliban said it was deeply saddened by the deaths of the Iranian president and foreign minister. 

“We share our grief with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the people of that country and offer our condolences to all the families of the victims, the nation and the government of Iran,” the Taliban prime minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, said in a statement.

Turkey hails Raisi’s peace efforts 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed his condolences to the Iranian people and government over the deaths of Raisi, Amir Abdollahian and other officials in the helicopter crash.

Erdogan said in a statement posted on X that he remembers Raisi “with respect and gratitude” and praised his “efforts for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his time in office.”

Aliyev: Raisi was selfless 

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev extended condolences to Iran’s Leader, saying in a statement that he and his government were “deeply shocked by the heavy loss that befell the brotherly and friendly Islamic Republic of Iran and its people.”

Aliyev said, “The people of Iran have lost an outstanding statesman who served his country selflessly and faithfully all his life. The bright memory of him will always live in our hearts.” 

India condoles with Raisi family 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Raisi’s death, and sent his condolences to the president’s family and the people of Iran.

“India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” Modi said in a post on X as his country also announced a day of national mourning over the death of the Iranian president and foreign minister.

Malaysia 'deeply saddened' by Raisi's death

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of the Iranian president and other officials in the helicopter crash, noting their shared commitment to bolstering ties.
"I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and several other officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said in a statement on social media.

Vietnam ‘grieved’ over Raisi’s death 

Vietnamese leaders also expressed sympathies with Iran.  

Acting State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, are grieved to learn about the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian and other members of the entourage. They extended their deepest condolences to the interim President of Iran, Mohammad Mokhber, Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and through them, to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei; the government and people of Iran. 

Qatar condoles with Iranian nation

The Emir of Qatar offered condolences to the government and people of Iran on the death of Raisi and other officials who lost their lives in the copter crash. 

"I offer my condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of President Ebrahim Raeisi and the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and the accompanying officials in the painful incident of the helicopter crash," Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani wrote.

UAE extends “heartfelt sympathies”

In the UAE, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed condolences to the Iranian government and people following the death of Raisi and Amir Abdollahian.
On his X account, Sheikh Mohamed tweeted: “I extend my deepest condolences to the Iranian government and people over the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and those accompanying them following a tragic accident.

“We pray that God grants them eternal rest and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families. The UAE stands in solidarity with Iran at this difficult time.”

Saudi Arabia also extended its condolences over the helicopter crash. 

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, "offer their condolences to his excellency, the acting head of the executive authority, Mohammad Mokhber, on the death of his excellency Ebrahim Raisi, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and his companions," said a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Jordan conveys deep condolences 

The King of Jordan conveyed his country’s condolences over the passing of Iranian officials in the helicopter crash. 

"My deepest condolences to the brothers, leadership, government, and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of Brother President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Brother Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and those accompanying them, may God have mercy on them all," Jordan’s King Abdullah II wrote in X account.

The King emphasized in his message that his country stands with the brothers in Iran in this difficult situation.

South Africa regrets 'unthinkable tragedy' 

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, who recently invited Iran to join the BRICS group, expressed deep regret over the death of President Raisi.

"This is an extraordinary, unthinkable tragedy that has claimed a remarkable leader of a nation with whom South Africa enjoys strong bilateral relations," Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa visited Iran as deputy president in 2015 and in 2023 welcomed Raisi to a summit of the BRICS group in Johannesburg, where the Islamic Republic was formally invited to join.

EU sympathizes with Iran 
 
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a brief statement offered condolences for the deaths of Iran’s president and foreign minister and “other Iranian officials involved in the tragic helicopter crash.”

“The EU expresses its sympathies to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected,” the statement said.
The European Council president also sent a message. 

“The EU expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families,” Charles Michel wrote on X.

Switzerland’s foreign minister also wrote on X to express his condolences.

“In light of the helicopter accident that claimed the lives of President Ebrahim Raisi, my counterpart FM @Amirabdolahian, and their accompanying delegations, I extend my condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected,” Ignazio Cassis said. 

In addition, France extended its condolences to Iran.

"France offers its condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and those accompanying them," the foreign ministry said in a statement. It also expressed its "condolences to the families of the victims of this accident."

NATO sends message of condolence 

The NATO military alliance expressed condolences to Iran over the death of Raisi in a helicopter crash.

"Our condolences to the people of Iran for the death of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian, and others who perished in the helicopter crash," said NATO spokesperson Farah Daklallah on X.

WHO sympathizes with Iranian nation, bereaved families

The World Health Organization has also expressed condolences over the tragic incident in Iran. 

 “We express our condolences to the people of #Iran and the families of the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and all those who lost their lives in the helicopter crash yesterday,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO chief, wrote on X.