TEHRAN - The President of the World Crafts Council (WCC), Sa’ad al-Qaddumi, has expressed profound condolences following the martyrdom of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash.

The accident also claimed the lives of Foreign Minister Hossain Amir Abdollahian as well as the governor of East Azerbaijan province, Malek Rahmati, and Tabriz’s Friday prayer leader, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, along with flight crews.

In a heartfelt letter addressed to Maryam Jalali Dehkordi, Deputy Minister for Handicrafts, al-Qaddumi conveyed his deep sorrow and extended his sympathies to the government and the people of Iran.

He stated, “In my name and the name of the World Crafts Council AISBL, we extend with great sorrow to your Excellency, and to the Government and people of Iran our deepest condolences on the sad demise of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Dr. Hossain Amir Abdollahian, and the accompanying delegation in the tragic helicopter crash.”

Al-Qaddumi also offered prayers for the deceased officials, asking God to grant them mercy and forgiveness.

“In these difficult times, we relay our heartfelt sympathies to their families and pray to Allah the Almighty to give them the strength and solace to endure their great loss.”

Currently, a selection of 13 cities and three villages in Iran have been registered by the World Council of Handicrafts as “world cities of handicrafts”.

The World Crafts Council is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that was founded in 1964 to promote fellowship, foster economic development through income-generating craft-related activities, and organize exchange programs, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions.

AM